Three Puebloans charged in string of bank robberies in Denver, Boulder areas
Three Puebloans face federal charges in connection to a series of bank robberies in the Denver and Boulder areas, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.
Leo Elias Benavidez, 34, Ashley Reanne Copper, 33, and Britne Bree Schneider, 25, face charges related to their alleged roles in the robberies that took place in May and June.
Criminal complaints for the suspects allege that during the months of May and June, Benavidez and Cooper robbed four banks and attempted to rob a fifth, with Schneider allegedly driving the getaway car following three of the robberies.
Benavidez and Cooper are charged with four counts of bank robbery, as well as aiding and abetting bank robbery, while Schneider is charged with a single count of accessory after the fact.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, the Brighton Police Department, the Denver Police Department, the Arvada Police Department, the Westminster Police Department, the Boulder Police Department, and the Lafayette Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn is handling the prosecution.
Here's what police say happened in the first robbery
On May 8, the U.S. Attorney's Office claims Cooper entered Colorado Credit Union and gave the teller a "robbery" note before making off with a significant amount of cash.
A suspicious male, later identified as Benavidez, was also noted to have entered and left the bank before the robbery.
Both Benavidez and Cooper were allegedly observed on security footage getting into and out of a Nissan that was used as a getaway vehicle. The Nissan was later found to have been reported stolen out of Pueblo.
A Brighton Police officer who heard the description of the getaway vehicle noticed it at an intersection after the robbery was reported, and attempted to give chase but had to terminate the chase due to the suspects traveling at a high speed and driving recklessly. The vehicle was later abandoned, and security camera footage collected from nearby showed the pair leaving the vehicle, according to the complaint. Benavidez, who was shirtless, was observed to have a tattoo of his last name on his back.
A thumbprint recovered from the vehicle also matched Benavidez, police say, and a cellphone recovered from the vehicle was found to be associated with Cooper, photos of whom matched the female suspect.
Second robbery takes place less than a month later
On May 30, Benavidez allegedly entered Key Bank on 1st Avenue in Denver and stood in line waiting for a teller. The suspect allegedly handed the teller a robbery note and verbally demanded money.
The note allegedly read “Don’t look up. All $$$ in register. Eyes Down. Fast Fast Fast Fast. No dyes/no trackers/no funny (business)," according to the complaint.
The teller removed cash and handed it to the suspect, $80 of which was attached to a GPS tracker.
Using the tracker, Denver police and FBI investigators located Benavidez and arrested him after a short foot chase and resistance.
Benavidez allegedly fit the general description of the bank robber but had apparently changed some of his clothing, according to the complaint.
Police say the victim teller and another witness both independently verified Benavidez as the robber. Benavidez declined to make a statement to police.
On June 1, charges were filed with the Denver District Attorney’s Office for two felony charges: robbery and theft. His bond was set in Denver for $10,000 and the bond was posted on June 8. Benavidez was release from jail shortly thereafter.
Attempted robbery foiled by bank manager
On June 12 at 10:30 a.m., Arvada police were dispatched to the Bank of The West in Arvada, where a female bank robber had attempted to rob a bank, handing the teller a robbery note. However, the teller was able to message her manager, who triggered a silent alarm.
While stepping away from the teller station, the manager tripped and made a loud noise. The female robber, as well as the tellers, looked toward the manager, and as the teller was about to hand money to the robber, noticed the robber walking away from the teller stations.
The branch manager later told police they saw the suspect enter a silver Jeep with two other occupants and provided its license plate number to police. A "be on the lookout" was aired to law enforcement to watch out for the vehicle.
A police review of surveillance footage later showed the description of the female robber matched that of Cooper.
Fourth robbery targets bank in Westminster
On June 12, just before 11 a.m., a man matching Benavidez's description entered First Bank in Westminster and gave the teller a robbery note asking for all the money in the drawer. The teller told investigators she complied out of fear and gave the man the money in her top drawer. The suspect then left the bank in what police believe was the same Jeep observed in the previous attempted robbery.
Fifth robbery takes place less than 30 minutes later
Just about a half-hour after the fourth alleged robbery, police were dispatched to the U.S. Bank on 28th Street in Boulder. The female robber, who was described as having a tattoo with the word "Samuel" on her chest as well as other identifying tattoos, had entered the bank and told the teller to give her cash because she had a gun.
The victim told the suspect she did not have cash at her register and needed to get it from the drive-thru register. She was then able to message her coworker to say she was being robbed. The coworker hit an alarm.
The victim allegedly observed that the robber was upset and yelling. The robber told her, "Hurry up, he's waiting outside," according to the complaint.
The victim told investigators she did not observe a gun, but believed the female was in possession of one and was afraid the robber would hurt her or others.
The robber allegedly received a small amount of cash and left in a small sport utility vehicle with a broken window, which was being driven by a male.
More Pueblo crime news: Pueblo woman charged in fatal hit-and-run was going more than double speed limit, police say
Stolen shoes and purse in Lafayette Kohl's leads to chase and arrests
Just before 1 p.m., Lafayette police officers responded to a call where a female suspect had stolen shoes and then shoved a woman down and stole her purse at a local Kohl's store. It was reported that the suspect left in a grey Jeep with broken rear window.
The vehicle was spotted on a law enforcement camera in Superior about 1:40 p.m. The vehicle was located by Boulder County sheriff's deputies and pursued through Lafayette, reaching speeds of more than 70 mph.
The vehicle eventually was forced to drive through a small field to evade pursuit, and drove through a fence, hit a berm, and went airborne before becoming stuck in the field. Three occupants allegedly ran on foot from the vehicle, splitting up.
However, all three were chased down by deputies, who identified them as Benavidez, Cooper, and Schneider.
At the time of her arrest, Cooper was wearing the same purple shirt as the bank robber at U.S. Bank, according to the complaint.
A significant amount of cash was found inside the crashed jeep, and more was recovered from inside Benavidez's pockets.
Schneider allegedly admitted to investigators that she drove the vehicle during the three bank robberies and was aware they went into the banks with the intent of robbing them. However, she stated she stayed in the vehicle.
The defendants are ordered to be detained in federal custody throughout their cases, according to a court order obtained by the Chieftain.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.
Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo suspects charged in string of bank robberies near Denver, Boulder
