Ex-Lax Bandit Sentenced To Time Served

The so-called Ex-Lax Bandit, who ran off with a laxative refund check mistakenly made out for more than $98,000, was sentenced Friday to time served and 12 months of community supervision.

Barry Lynn Stoller, 40, who pleaded guilty to first-degree theft in May, was sentenced Friday to 88 days in jail, but with credit for 57 days he’d already spent behind bars, plus good time, he was free to go, the King County prosecutor’s office said.

A restitution hearing was scheduled for Aug. 28. Restitution has not been determined.

In September 1993, Stoller wrote a letter complaining he was dissatisfied with his Ex-Lax purchase and demanding a $1.99 refund from New Jersey-based Sandoz Pharmaceuticals.

The company mistakenly made out the check in the amount of Stoller’s ZIP code - for $98,002.

Prosecutors say he deposited the check in his savings account and withdrew it eight days later along with his own savings - a total of about $114,000 - and then disappeared.

Stoller was arrested in March during a shoplifting incident at a suburban grocery store.

Sandoz recently merged with Ciba-Geigy to form Novartis Pharmaceuticals.