Denver Man Sentenced To 63 Months For Bank Robbery

DENVER - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Justin Victor Velasquez, 43, Denver, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after pleading guilty without a plea agreement to one count of bank robbery.

According to the indictment, Velasquez walked into a Denver area bank, threw his backpack at the teller and demanded everything in the teller drawer. Velasquez fled the scene on a mountain bike with about $1,120 in cash and was caught just blocks away. This charge was Velasquez's ninth felony conviction.

"Bank robbers go to prison in Colorado," said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. "I am glad to see this prosecution end in a strong sentence as we continue to aggressively and successfully work to reduce violent crime across our state."

"Many times, bank robbers assume they are committing a victimless crime because banks are federally insured. This could not be further from the truth. Not only does robbing a bank steal from the institution, but the act traumatizes witnesses and collateral victims," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. "Bank robbers should be warned, the FBI will find them, prosecute them, and bring justice to victims, witnesses and the institutions they negatively impacted."

United States District Judge Domenic D. Domenico presided over the sentencing.

The FBI Denver Field Office handled the investigation. The Violent Crime Section of the United States Attorney's Office handled the prosecution.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Case Number: 25-cr-0267-DDD