Earl Albert Moore Sentenced to Life in Prison for Use of a Destructive Device During a Crime of Violence

DENVER—Earl Albert Moore, age 66, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge John L. Kane to serve life in federal prison for use of a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence. Specifically, Moore left a destructive device at the Southwest Plaza Mall on April 20, 2011. Moore, who appeared at the hearing in custody, was remanded.

‪Moore was originally charged by criminal complaint on April 24, 2011. He was then indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on May 5, 2011. Moore pled guilty on December 30, 2011. He was sentenced today, April 5, 2012.

‪According to court records, on April 20, 2011, a subject entered Southwest Plaza Mall using an employee-only entrance. He then allegedly placed a destructive device inside an employee corridor at the mall. He then lit the device. Moore then exited the facility. As he was departing, a fire ignited, but the device did not detonate. A security officer used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office immediately initiated an investigation. That investigation resulted in identifying Moore as the person responsible for the assembling and leaving the destructive device. A manhunt ensued. An alert Boulder resident recognized Moore at a local coffee house inside a grocery store. She called the Boulder Police Department, who quickly responded and arrested Moore.

“Moore’s criminal actions last year placing a destructive device in a public place put an entire community on edge, and until his apprehension, raised the specter of further acts of violence,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “Today’s sentence recognizes the grave nature of that crime and its consequences and sends a clear message to all those who seek to do the public harm that they will be caught and they will be punished severely.”

“This sentencing reflects the seriousness of an attempt to use an explosive device against any facet of our community,” said James Yacone, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge. “This case is a reflection of the outstanding collaborative effort between the FBI, ATF, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the USMS to promptly respond, investigate, and bring to justice the individual responsible for this particular action.”

“Today’s sentencing should send a very clear message,” said Marvin Richardson, ATF Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Division. “If you are going to commit violent criminal acts and cause harm within this community, the ATF will dedicate all of its resources to make sure you are held accountable.”

“We are pleased with the outcome and congratulate our colleagues from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, FBI, and U.S. Attorney’s Office on a successful prosecution and for taking a dangerous criminal off our streets,” said U.S. Marshal John Kammerzell.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Marshals Service also provided support.

Moore is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Holloway.

Seeking Information on “Face Off Bandit” Serial Bank Robber

The Golden, Thornton, and Boulder Police Departments, along with the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF) are investigating four bank robberies, suspected of being committed by the same individual.

9/29/2011, 10:56 a.m.

Wells Fargo Bank
1301 Jackson Street
Golden, Colorado

11/8/2011, 9:30 a.m.
Key Bank
3505 East 104th Ave.
Thornton, Colorado

12/16/2011, 12:00 p.m.
Great Western Bank
1900 9th Street
Boulder, Colorado

1/19/2012, 11:39 a.m.

First Bank
4770 Baseline Road
Boulder, Colorado

The suspect is described as a white male in his 40s, approximately 5’11” to 6’1” in height, 200 to 220 pounds, with a medium to large build. 

The below photographs show the suspect with what appears to be fake facial hair; some of the photographs have been altered to remove the fake facial hair to show what the individual may look like clean shaven.

This individual has been dubbed the “Face Off Bandit” by the investigating agencies for the fact that his facial hair can be removed.  

The suspect enters the bank, presents a demand note, and flees. 

Bank robbery is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime. 

The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you can remain anonymous and earn up to two thousand dollars ($2,000) by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Southwest Mall Investigation Suspect in Custody

The FBI Denver Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), in conjunction with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is announcing the capture of Earl Albert Moore this morning at 3600 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, Colorado, by the Boulder Police Department.

A press briefing is scheduled today at 1:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters building located at 200 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden, Colorado 80401.

The speakers are expected to be leadership from the FBI, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, and the United States Attorney’s Office in Colorado.

Arkansas and Colorado

Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. The website added three police officers; two from Colorado and one from Arkansas.

Dempsie Coffman was sworn in as a Trooper with the Arkansas State Police on October 7, 1973 and assigned to the Highway Patrol Division. In 1979, he received the prestigious Trooper of the Year award for saving a woman’s life. He was promoted to Sergeant on November 23, 1984 and then Lieutenant on June 17, 1988. His first assignment as a lieutenant was as the Assistant Commander for Troop “B” at Newport, Arkansas. In March of 1995, he transferred to Troop “J” in Clarksville, where he served the remainder of his thirty-year career before retiring on April 30, 2004. Dempsie Coffman is the author of three books: Arkansas State Troopers: A Breed Apart; Life (It's All about the Family) An Autobiography about the Life and Times of Lt. Dempsie Coffman, Arkansas State Police; and, a book of poetry, Southern Charm: Poems For All Occasions.

Steve Thomas is a 13 year veteran of law enforcement. His experience includes 8 years with the Boulder Police Department (Colorado). While working on the Boulder Police Department, Steve Thomas was a primary investigator on the JonBenet Ramsey case. Steve Thomas took medical leave in 1998 and ultimately resigned from the Boulder Police Department. Steve Thomas is the co-author of JonBenet: Inside the Murder Investigation.

According to Shawn Carkonen, a reviewer on Amazon.com, “Let's answer the burning question straightaway: Steve Thomas believes that Patsy Ramsey is responsible for the death of her daughter, JonBenét, Christmas night 1996. As a key member of the team assigned to investigate the murder of the 6-year-old girl, the former detective knows the facts of the case as well as anyone, and the conclusion he draws is convincing and clearly presented. And, as it turns out, his theory about who may be guilty of the crime is just one of the shocking revelations in JonBenét: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation.”

Philip Swift was born into an Episcopal Church and grew up in both Missouri and Colorado and under the watchful eye of his father, an Episcopal Priest. At a young age, Philip decided that his life's work would not be found within the church but within the law enforcement community. Cradle to Grave is a unique look at an age-old problem. Philip uses his years of service with not only the Denver Sheriff Department's Gang Unit but also the Department Emergency Response Unit to address the problem of monitoring and tracking both gang and Security Threat Groups from the prospective of a correctional setting. His unique look at an often overlooked issue offers a new set of techniques that can be applied to the ever-changing gang culture within today's jails and prisons. The Cradle to Grave philosophy binds together techniques that have been proven in facilities across the country to create a program that can effectively monitor and track gang and Security Threat Groups. Cradle to Grave also offers a view into gang and Security Threat Group culture that enables even a rookie officer to understand the inmates that live within the walls of today's correctional facilities.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 560 police officers (representing 234 police departments) and their 1179 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.