Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Federal Bank Robbery Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Kenneth Columbus Burwell, 54, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his conviction on a bank robbery charge.

Burwell was arrested in Nov. 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with robbing the US Bank branch located at 3000 Central Ave. SE in Albuquerque on Oct. 14, 2015. Burwell subsequently was indicted on Nov. 15, 2016, and charged with bank robbery.

On March 7, 2017, Burwell pled guilty to the indictment, and admitted that on Oct. 14, 2015, he robbed the US Bank branch by approaching the bank teller, demanding money, and threatening to shoot the teller if she pulled the alarm. Burwell further admitted that after threatening the teller, he pulled his shirt tight showing an impression of a gun-shaped item concealed beneath his clothing.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Kraehe prosecuted the case.