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Press Release

Albuquerque Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Joleen Sedillo, 42, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty this morning in federal court to bank robbery charges. Under the terms of her plea agreement, Sedillo will be sentenced within the range of 27 to 33 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court.

 

Sedillo and co-defendants Abel Lopez, 31, and William Colbert, 38, both of Albuquerque, were arrested in July 2016, on a criminal complaint charging them with bank robbery charges. The criminal complaint alleges that Sedillo, Lopez and Colbert robbed Bank of the West branches located at 5401 Central Ave. NE and 7900 Wyoming Blvd. NE on June 22, 2016 and June 27, 2016, respectively, and attempted to rob the Bank of the West branch located at 5228 Central Ave. SW on July 14, 2016.

 

Sedillo, Lopez and Colbert were indicted on Aug. 10, 2016, and charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery in June and July 2016; bank robbery on June 22, 2016 and June 27, 2016; and attempted bank robbery on July 14, 2016. According to the indictment, the three defendants committed the crimes in Bernalillo County, N.M.

 

During this morning’s proceedings, Sedillo pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and to aiding and abetting an attempted bank robbery. In entering the guilty plea, Sedillo admitted driving Lopez and Colbert to the Bank of the West branches they planned to rob. Sedillo further admitted that on July 14, 2016, she drove her co-defendants away from a branch of Bank of the West branch that Colbert attempted to rob. She also admitted concealing the clothing Colbert wore during the attempted robbery. A sentencing hearing for Sedillo has yet to be scheduled.

 

Lopez and Colbert have entered pleas of not guilty to the charges against them. Both remain in custody pending trial, which has yet to be scheduled. Charges in indictments and criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

 

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Murphy is prosecuting the case.

Updated March 28, 2017