Albuquerque Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Bank Robbery Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Joleen Sedillo, 42, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced this morning in federal court to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for her conviction on bank robbery charges.

Sedillo and co-defendants Abel Lopez, 31, and William Colbert, 38, both of Albuquerque, were arrested in July 2016, on a criminal complaint charging them with bank robbery charges. The criminal complaint alleges that Sedillo, Lopez and Colbert robbed Bank of the West branches located at 5401 Central Ave. NE and 7900 Wyoming Blvd. NE on June 22, 2016 and June 27, 2016, respectively, and attempted to rob the Bank of the West branch located at 5228 Central Ave. SW on July 14, 2016.

Sedillo, Lopez and Colbert were indicted on Aug. 10, 2016, and charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery in June and July 2016; bank robbery on June 22, 2016 and June 27, 2016; and attempted bank robbery on July 14, 2016. According to the indictment, the three defendants committed the crimes in Bernalillo County, N.M.

On March 28, 2017, Sedillo pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and to aiding and abetting an attempted bank robbery. In entering the guilty plea, Sedillo admitted driving Lopez and Colbert to the Bank of the West branches they planned to rob. Sedillo further admitted that on July 14, 2016, she drove her co-defendants away from a branch of Bank of the West branch that Colbert attempted to rob. She also admitted concealing the clothing Colbert wore during the attempted robbery.

On April 5, 2017, Colbert pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and to aiding and abetting an attempted bank robbery. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Colbert will be sentenced within the range of 41 to 51 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. On April 7, 2017, Lopez pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and to aiding and abetting an attempted bank robbery. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Lopez will be sentenced within the range of 27 to 33 months in federal prison followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court. Colbert and Lopez are currently scheduled for sentencing hearings on July 21, 2017

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Murphy is prosecuting the case.