A 29-year-old Denver man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a 2019 armed ban robbery in Westminster.

Christopher L. Wheatfall-Grate was also sentenced in federal court to three years’ supervised released when his 120-month sentence ends, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

FBI, police search for suspect in Denver bank robbery

He previously pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

As part of the plea agreement, Wheatfall-Grate has agreed to pay back $1,318 to U.S. Bank.

According to a release, Wheatfall-Grate and another suspect entered a U.S. Bank branch in Westminster on April 16, 2019, while holding handguns and ordered everyone to put their “hands up.”

Wheatfall-Grate jumped over the bank counter and approached two employees while the second suspect went to the bank’s vault with the manager and demanded access, officials said.

Both suspects learned that it required more than one employee to open the vault and forced three tellers to the area to acquire access.

They grabbed less than $1,400 and fled the scene in a vehicle that was listed stolen, officials said. 

“Monday’s sentencing of (Wheatfall-Grate) reflects the continuing impact federal, state and local partnerships have on combating individuals who commit armed bank robberies in our community,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider.

“We will continue to aggressively investigate individuals who target our financial institutions and needlessly threaten their personnel to ensure they are held accountable.”