Colorado Man Sentenced to 154 Months for Federal Bank Robbery and Firearms Conviction in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Paul Fichera, 29, of Durango, Colo., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 154 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his conviction on bank robbery and firearms charges. 

Fichera was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed on May 12, 2017, with robbing the Four Corners Community Bank located at 1301 West Aztec Blvd., in Aztec, N.M., on May 11, 2017.  According to the complaint, Fichera entered the bank wearing a mask, gloves and sunglasses, brandished a firearm, yelled for everyone in the bank to get on the ground, and directed a bank teller to fill his bag with money.  Fichera exited the bank after receiving money, entered a vehicle, and attempted to flee from law enforcement by driving into Colorado at a high rate of speed. 

Fichera subsequently was indicted on May 24, 2017, and was charged with armed robbery of the Four Corners Community Bank in Aztec and with using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence on May 11, 2017, in San Juan County, N.M.  Fichera pled guilty to the indictment on June 22, 2018, without the benefit of a plea agreement.

This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard R. Thomas.