DENVER (LAWFUEL) – Two Metro Denver men have been sentenced for a string of violent bank robberies, and for being felons in possession of firearms. Frabrizio Rosero, age 45, and Richard Kim, age 28, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to serve prison sentences for their crimes. Both defendants were in custody, and were remanded to start serving their sentences immediately. On November 2, 2007, when the defendants were arrested, one reached for a handgun in his belt, resulting in shots being fired by law enforcement. No one was injured as a result of the shots fired.
On June 25, 2008, Judge Blackburn sentenced Frabrizio Rosero to serve 212 months (17.5 years) in federal prison. In addition, Judge Blackburn ordered Rosero to pay restitution joint and several with Richard Kim, totaling $18,364 to victim banks. On May 30, 2008, Judge Blackburn sentenced Richard Kim to serve 252 months (21 years) in federal prison. Kim was also ordered to pay the $18,364 joint and severally with Rosero.
The defendants were charged by Criminal Complaint on November 5, 2007. They were indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver for being felons in possession of firearms on November 28, 2007. On March 12, 2008, Kim was charged by Information for armed bank robbery. On that date he also pled guilty to the charges. On March 19, 2008, Rosero was charged by Information for armed bank robbery. On that date he also pled guilty to the charges.
According to the indictment, on November 2, 2007, Rosero and Kim both possessed a firearm, which is prohibited because they are both convicted felons. According to the Information, and the subsequent plea agreement, both defendants robbed six banks, and used a firearm in furtherance of the bank robbery – a crime of violence.
The bank robberies were:
*October 9, 2007, Bank of the West in Denver, where the defendants got away with $1,745.
*October 11, 2007, Bank of the West in Jefferson County, where the defendants got away with $2,240.
*October 16, 2007, Liberty Savings in Littleton, where the defendants got away with $2,280.
*October 18, 2007, Bank of the West in Wheatridge, where the defendants got away with $1,720.
*October 24, 2007, U.S. Bank of Fort Collins, where the defendants got away with $1,822.
*October 26, 2007, Academy Bank of Colorado Springs, where the defendants got away with $8,557.
“The ATF agents who made this case were ‘just doing their jobs,’ but they’re still heros,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid. “The agents could easily have been hurt or killed. Thanks to their bravery, quick-thinking and investigative discipline, our community is safer.”
Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ray Brown states, “Our Agents are committed to protecting the public by targeting those people that prey on innocent victims. We will utilize every investigative technique at our disposal in an effort to incarcerate armed and dangerous recidivist offenders.”
“We are glad these two violent criminals were taken off the streets,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge in Denver James Davis. “The Agents and Investigators involved in this case are to be commended for their pursuit of justice.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Aurora Police Department, the Colorado State Patrol, the Denver Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Protective Service, and the Weld County Sheriff’s Office.
