Pueblo Residents Charged in Bank Robberies

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that three defendants from Pueblo have been charged by federal complaint in connection with a series of bank robberies in the Denver-Boulder area.  Leo Elias Benavidez, age 34, Ashley Raeanne Cooper, age 33, and Britne Bree Schneider, age 25, have been charged for their alleged roles in the robberies.  Benavidez is charged with four counts of bank robbery and aiding and abetting the same; Cooper is charged with four counts of bank robbery and aiding and abetting the same.  Schneider is charged with a single count of accessory after the fact.

According to allegations in the criminal complaints, during the months of May and June, 2023, Benavidez and Cooper robbed four banks in the Denver-Boulder metro area, and attempted to rob a fifth.  Schneider allegedly drove the getaway car following three of the robberies.

The Defendants had their initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Crews on June 21, 2023.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, the Brighton Police Department, the Denver Police Department, the Arvada Police Department, the Westminster Police Department, the Boulder Police Department, and the Lafayette Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn is handling the prosecution.

The charges in the complaints are allegations and the Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

CASE NUMBERS:        23-mj-00108-NRN (Schneider)

23-mj-00109-NRN (Cooper)

23-mj-00110-NRN (Benavidez)