TOBIAS ARCHULETA SENTENCED FOR BELLCO CREDIT UNION ROBBERY

DENVER - Tobias Archuleta, age 23, of Jefferson County, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to serve 228 months (19 years) in federal prison for the armed robbery of the Bellco Credit Union, located at 10058 West Progress Avenue in Littleton, Colorado. Archuleta was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $83,521.00. He is in custody without bond, and was remanded.

Tobias Archuleta was charged by Criminal Complaint on July 24, 2008. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on August 20, 2008. He pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer on October 17, 2008. He was sentenced today, January 15, 2009, by Judge Blackburn.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on July 23, 2008, shortly after 9:00 am, an armed man entered the Bellco Credit Union located at 10058 West Progress Avenue in Littleton, Colorado. The man shot his firearm to get people's attention, and then ordered everyone in the credit union to get down on the floor. He approached a teller demanding money. The teller complied. He then fired a second shot, and ordered a second teller to give him the money in the credit union's vault. He left the scene in a credit union employee's car, which he stole for his getaway.

At approximately 2:45 pm that same day, Archuleta called the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department to surrender. He was soon apprehended. Sheriff's deputies and agents and officers of the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force later recovered cash from the robbery as well as a firearm thought to have been used during the crime.
"The violent conduct of this defendant jeopardized the lives of many people," said Acting U.S. Attorney Dave Gaouette. "Today's sentence reflects the violent nature of this crime."

"Committing a crime only adds to an individuals' problems, it does not solve them," said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis. "If you commit a bank robbery, you will get caught and have to suffer the consequences."

This case was investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, the FBI, and the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Hosley. Victims and witnesses were coordinated by Donna Summers.