4 men charged in string of Denver robberies

DENVER – Four men have been charged with multiple felonies related to a string of six robberies and attempted robberies at various banks and businesses earlier this year.

The Denver District Attorney’s Office announced the charges against the four men on Monday.

Alfredo Ray Garcia, 39, Celestino Mendoza, 28, Angelito Arechiga, 21, and his cousin, Louis Arechiga, 19, all face felonies in relation to the robberies, which happened between May 23 and June 14 this year.

Garcia faces 44 counts, including violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, kidnapping, first-degree burglary, aggravated robbery, escape and others. He’s currently in custody in New Mexico after being arrested there on a warrant out of Colorado.

Mendoza faces 40 charges, which also include violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, kidnapping, first-degree burglary, aggravated robbery and others. He’s already in custody in the Colorado Department of Corrections in Crowley County.

Both of the Arechigas face two counts of felony aggravated robbery and two violent-crime sentence enhancers. They were both arrested mid-July and remain in custody at the Denver jail.

Garcia is accused of being involved in all six robberies or attempted robberies. The Arechigas are accused of being involved in one of them, a May 23 robbery of a Community Banks of Colorado branch on W. 32nd Avenue.

Mendoza is accused of helping Garcia with five other robberies or attempted robberies:

• A June 6 robbery of the Premier Inusrance Group on S. Sheridan Boulevard;
• A June 9 attempted robbery of Kentucky Fried Chicken on N. Federal Boulevard;
• A June 12 robbery of a Cricket wireless store on W. Alameda Avenue;
• A June 13 robbery of Pleasures on W. Alameda Avenue, and;
• A June 14 robbery of the BBVA Compass Bank on W. 32nd Avenue.

Garcia and Mendoza face escape charges because they are accused of leaving a halfway house without being allowed to do so.

Louis Arechiga is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 2; his cousin is next due in court Aug. 9, and Mendoza is next scheduled to appear on Aug. 15 for his second advisement on his charges.