Darren Michael Connolly, Bank Robbery, Colorado 2022

LAKEWOOD, CO – A brazen daylight robbery of a Lakewood credit union has landed two Colorado men in federal prison. Darren Michael Connolly, 27, of Englewood, was sentenced to 147 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release on November 14, 2023, for his role in the June 15, 2022, heist at the Canvas Credit Union on West 5th Avenue. His accomplice, James David Trujillo Jr., 25, of Lakewood, already received 135 months and 3 years of supervised release after being sentenced on September 18, 2023.

The pair stormed the bank armed with an AR-15 rifle and a shotgun, terrorizing employees and customers. Both Connolly and Trujillo were masked during the robbery, fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash and escaping in a waiting vehicle. What makes this case particularly galling? Connolly was already wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time – a clear indication he was a known quantity to law enforcement and a repeat offender willing to risk further consequences.

Authorities quickly descended on Connolly’s residence on June 16, 2022, where they recovered both the AR-15 and shotgun used in the robbery. Trujillo’s identity was established shortly after, leading to his arrest and eventual conviction. Both men were found guilty of bank robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and brandishing a weapon during a federal crime of violence – a trifecta of charges that guaranteed lengthy prison terms.

U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan didn’t mince words, stating, “We will not tolerate such brazen criminal conduct in our communities.” The case was spearheaded by the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Dunn and Kristin Coccaro handling the prosecution. FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek added that Connolly was a “hardened felon” and the public was safer with him incarcerated.

The sentencing occurred before U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello. This case is being touted as a success for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program focused on reducing violent crime through collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement. However, the fact remains: a man already under surveillance managed to pull off an armed robbery, highlighting the limitations of even the most comprehensive monitoring systems.

While the lengthy sentences will undoubtedly offer some measure of relief to the Lakewood community, the incident raises questions about the effectiveness of parole and the challenges of keeping dangerous individuals off the streets. Case number: 22-cr-00213. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on the ongoing efforts to combat violent crime in Colorado and across the nation.

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