Two People Indicted for Three Bank Robberies on the Western Slope

DENVER—Troy A. Ashley, age 24, and Brandon D. Smith, age 33, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver late yesterday on three counts of armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge James Yacone announced. Ashley and Smith are currently in state custody. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will writ them into federal custody. No federal court date has yet been set.

According to the indictment, the two defendants committed three armed bank robberies.

■Count 1 alleges that on May 27, 2011, the defendants robbed the American National Bank, located in Rifle, Colorado, using a pellet pistol.

■Count 2 alleges that on June 24, 2011, the defendants robbed the Alpine Bank, located in Montrose, Colorado, using a pellet pistol.

■Count 3 alleges that on July 29, 2011, the defendants robbed the Surface Creek Bank, located in Cedaredge, Colorado, using a pellet pistol.

If convicted, both defendants face not more than 25 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine, per count, for each of the three counts. They also face a possible order to pay restitution.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Montrose Police Department, the Cedaredge Police Department, the Rifle Police Department, and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.

The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty.