Home Denver Press Releases 2010 Wanted: “The High Country Bandits”
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Wanted: “The High Country Bandits”

FBI Denver February 18, 2010
  • Public Affairs Specialist Deborah Sherman (303) 630-6060

The FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the an armed crew who have allegedly committed 12 bank robberies across Northern Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. The unknown male identified as suspect number one often enters the banks in rural locations near closing time and brandishes a black semi-automatic handgun. Suspect number one then demands all the money from the teller drawers. He obtains an undisclosed amount of money, puts it in a bag, orders everyone on the ground, then exits the banks with a second suspect. They have been seen leaving the banks on a green or maroon four-wheel ATV with suspect number two driving.

Suspect number one is described as a white or Hispanic male, 30’s - 40’s, approximately 5’3” - 5’6”, 130 - 160 lbs. (slight build), wearing dark clothing, brown or grey hair with a possible mustache or beard, and thin legs. His voice is described as being deep, rough or raspy.

Suspect number two is described as a white or Hispanic male, 30’s, approximately 6’0” tall, 150 -175lbs., with straight black hair (see sketch below).

The following credit union and banks have been robbed:

  • 09/08/09, Bank of the West, 1945 Highway 260, Heber, AZ
  • 09/22/09, First National Bank of Durango, 351 Bayfield Center Drive, Bayfield, CO
  • 10/14/09, Arizona Central Credit Union, 1948 S. Woodland Village Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ
  • 10/30/09, Country Bank, 3044 North Glassford Hill Road, Prescott Valley, AZ
  • 11/10/09, First Community Bank, 19390 Highway 314, Belen, NM.
  • 11/25/09, Compass Bank, 613 S. Beeline Highway, Payson, AZ
  • 12/03/09, Chase Bank, 5305 S. Superstition Mtn Dr., Gold Canyon, AZ
  • 12/04/09, Compass Bank, 781 E. White Mountain Blvd., Pinetop, AZ
  • 12/15/09, Wells Fargo Bank, 12140 N. Dove Mountain Blvd, Marana, AZ
  • 12/22/09, Bank of the San Juans, 1710 Main St., Durango, CO
  • 01/25/10, Sunwest Bank, 822 N. Humphreys, Flagstaff, AZ
  • 02/05/10, Community Banks of Colorado, 1438 E. Main St., Cortez, CO

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime.

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robberies above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171 or you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

The High Country Bandits, Photo 1 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 2 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 3 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 4 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 5 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 6 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 7 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 8 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 9 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 10 of 11 (2/18/10)

The High Country Bandits, Photo 11 of 11 (2/18/10)