Three people convicted in Boulder bank robbery

Three defendants reached plea deals and were sentenced in federal court for robbing a bank in Boulder last June.

Britne Schneider, 26, Ashley Cooper, 34, and Leo Benavidez, 35, were arrested by Louisville police on June 12, 2023, after allegedly robbing a U.S. Bank at 1650 St. in Boulder.

Schneider reached a plea deal in October in which she pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact. She was sentenced to two years and three months in prison with a parole period of three years.

Cooper reached a plea deal in January in which she pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery – complicity. She was sentenced to three years in prison in April on each count, which will be concurrent.

Benavidez also entered into a plea deal in January in which he pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery – complicity and one count of bank robbery. He was sentenced in April to six years and two months in prison.

According to court records, on June 12, 2023, there were two bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery. In the latest robbery, which occurred in Boulder, Cooper entered the bank and handed over a note demanding money and said she had a gun in her waist.

According to their affidavits, on June 13, the three suspects were driving a stolen 2019 Jeep Cherokee that had been linked to the Boulder bank robbery and an armed robbery in Lafayette the day before.

The Jeep Colorado's license plate was captured on camera, alerting police. As the car drove south on McCaslin Boulevard, police followed it. He made a U-turn near Rock Creek Parkway in Superior and took off at a high speed, reaching 94 mph in a 40 mph zone, according to the affidavit.

In a later review of the patrol car camera footage, it was determined that Schneider was the driver of the Jeep. It was later discovered that Schneider had a DUI license at the time of the high-speed chase.

Police reported that Schneider “maneuvered recklessly,” ran red lights and failed to yield for several minutes before turning west into the Enclave neighborhood. On the 1100 block of McCaslin Boulevard, Schneider crashed the Jeep through a fence and the three suspects got out of the car and ran. They were then arrested.

Schneider and Cooper both had active warrants out for their arrest.

Benavidez has a significant criminal history that includes arrests for attempted murder, first degree assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, weapons offenses, kidnapping, robbery, assault, burglary, escape, trespassing, criminal mischief, violation of a protective order, resisting arrest, obstruction and traffic violations, according to an affidavit.