Denver Bank Robber Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Simon Meza, 45, Denver, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison, and three years of supervised release after being convicted at trial in September 2025 on two counts of bank robbery. Meza previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in the same matter.

According to the facts presented at trial and to the Court at sentencing, on September 20, 2023, Meza entered the Huntington Bank at 18520 E. Green Valley Ranch Blvd in Denver and robbed the bank by demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money and fled. Eight days later, on September 28, 2023, Meza robbed the PNC Bank on West 32^nd Avenue in Denver by, again, demanding money from the teller.  Meza took the money, which contained a GPS tracker, and fled. Law enforcement officers were quickly able to track the GPS device to a rented truck traveling near the bank. Denver Police officers tried to arrest Meza in the truck, but Meza led officers on a high-speed chase. During the chase, Meza leaned out of the truck and fired one round from his Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun, striking the pursuing police vehicle in the front bumper. The chase ended when Meza caused a four-car accident at 44^th Avenue and Harlan Street in Wheat Ridge. Meza then fled from the vehicle and was chased and arrested by Denver Police. Officers found the stolen money and loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber firearm in the truck.

“This conviction and sentence should send a clear message to anyone considering robbing a bank in Colorado,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “Bank robbery is a serious crime with serious penalties that you will pay. Colorado is safer with this repeat offender serving a lengthy sentence in federal prison.”

“Here we have a previous offender who could have taken advantage of state and federal opportunities to rehabilitate himself. Instead, he robbed two banks and fired on the officer who gave chase when he fled. Clearly the community is safer with this defendant back behind bars,” said Marvin Massey, Acting Special Agent In Charge of FBI Denver. “The FBI Denver Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task force will continue to work with our local partners to get violent offenders like this off the streets.”

United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing.

This case was investigated by the FBI Denver Field Office, the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and the Denver Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Dunn and Thomas Minser handled the prosecution.

Case Number: 1:23-cr-00446-RMR