Jury Convicts Lakewood Felon of Bank Robbery, Weapons Violations

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces a federal jury has found James David Trujillo Jr., age 25, of Lakewood, guilty of bank robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and brandishing a weapon during a federal crime of violence.

According to facts presented at trial, on June 15, 2022, Trujillo was one of two men who robbed a Canvas Credit Union on West 5th Avenue in Lakewood. The men were armed with an AR-15 and shotgun. The codefendant, Darren Michael Connolly, was wearing a GPS bracelet at the time of the robbery. Both men were covered in masks and ran from the bank to a waiting getaway car. Connolly was arrested on June 16, 2022 and charged. Investigators were able to determine the identity of the second robber soon thereafter.

Judge Christine M. Arguello presided over the five-day trial. After five hours of deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict convicting Trujillo on all counts on March 17, 2023. Trujillo will be sentenced on July 17, 2023. Co-defendant Darren Michael Connolly pleaded guilty on February 28, 2023, to the same charges and will be sentenced on July 18, 2023.

"We cannot thank the jury and the FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force enough for their tireless commitment to upholding justice and holding bank robbers accountable,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “We will not tolerate such brazen criminal conduct in our communities.”

“Bank robbery is not a victimless crime,” said Denver FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “The threat of violence in these incidents can have a traumatic and lasting impact on the employees and customers who live through them. FBI Denver and our Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force will continue to work with our local partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue federal prosecution and reduce violence in our communities.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Coccaro handled the prosecution.

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-00213

Canvas Credit Union