Denver Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for 10 Armed Bank Robberies

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Jerome Bravo, age 39, of Denver, has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison after earlier pleading guilty to ten counts of bank robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to the plea agreement, the defendant and his codefendant robbed ten banks in Denver, Aurora, and Arvada between January 6, 2021, and March 31, 2021.   The two were nicknamed the “Brazen Bandits” for their risky tactics during the commission of the robberies.  In the January 6th robbery, the defendant was armed with a black handgun, pointed it at a teller, and stated, "Don't move, I'm going to shoot you."  After taking money from the drawer, he jumped back over the counter and left the bank.  On February 4, 2021, the defendant and his codefendant ran into a bank yelling while waving and pointing their handguns at people in the bank.  The defendant demanded the teller open her drawer as he vaulted over the counter.  Out of fear, the teller complied and removed money from her drawer and gave it to the defendant and his codefendant. In the second of two bank robberies on February 8, 2021, the defendant and codefendant ran into a bank brandishing handguns, vaulted the counter, and demanded money from the teller.  The teller was in fear for her life and safety and gave the robbers the money in her drawer and from the machine.  After obtaining the money, the defendant and codefendant vaulted the counters and ran out of the bank.  On February 18, 2021, the defendant and codefendant entered a bank brandishing handguns, yelling “get down,” and warning that they weren’t “playing.”  The defendant and codefendant also threatened to shoot the occupants of the bank.  The defendant vaulted over the counter and emptied out several teller drawers, actually physically taking the drawer units.  The defendant and his codefendant also robbed five other banks before being apprehended. 

Judge Daniel D. Domenico sentenced the defendant on June 27, 2023.  Codefendant Jonathan Gullette has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2023. 

“We are grateful for the collaboration between the FBI and all the law enforcement agencies that worked to end this series of armed bank robberies,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan.  “The sentence handed down by the court serves as a reminder that such criminal behavior will not be tolerated and that there are serious consequences for this type of criminal conduct.”

“This is a criminal who terrorized employees and customers at 10 banks across metro Denver in just three months,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “This case is an example of why the FBI Denver Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods are so important in our work to keep communities safe.  We will continue partner with local law enforcement to get violent criminals off the streets and reduce gun crimes.”

This was investigated by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Denver Police Department, Aurora Police Department, and Arvada Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles:  fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

CASE NUMBER: 21-cr-226