Denver Man Sentenced In Connection With Five Bank Robberies

DENVER - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Samuel Richard Ruthstrom, age 42, has been sentenced to 160 months in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of bank robbery.

According to the plea agreement, Ruthstrom robbed four banks and attempted to rob a fifth in Denver. In several of the robberies, Ruthstrom used notes threatening tellers with physical harm if they failed to comply with his demands. Ruthstrom, who was on state parole and living at an inpatient facility at the time of the robberies, stole a box truck to commit three of the crimes.

"Repeat offenders are a menace to our communities, and I strongly support sentences like this one that keep these criminals off our streets," said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch.

"Robbing banks is not a career - it's a series of crimes that will net you serious federal prison time. That is what this defendant learned once the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force tracked him down," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. "The FBI will continue to work with partners like the Denver Police Department and Metro Denver CrimeStoppers to identify and apprehend violent criminals."

"The Denver Police Department is proud to see justice served in the case of this repeat offender," said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. "Partnerships between federal and local agencies are critical to stopping bank robberies and other violent crimes."

The defendant was sentenced by Judge Nina Y. Wang. The case was investigated by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and the Denver Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn handled the prosecution.

Case Number: 1:24-mj-00025-KAS