A convicted bank robber who chronicled his criminal past in a self‑published memoir has been arrested by federal authorities following an alleged robbery at a Denver bank earlier this month.
Charles Christopher Martinez, 48, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on January 8, three days after he is alleged to have targeted a branch of US Bank in the Colorado city.
Mr Martinez, who lives in Arvada, previously served around 15 years in prison for a series of robbery offences, and later wrote extensively about his criminal history and time behind bars.
His autobiography, published in 2018, detailed both his involvement in multiple robberies and his experiences within the American prison system.
Law enforcement officials publicly confirmed his arrest on January 12, shortly after surveillance images of the suspect circulated in the days following the alleged incident.
The robbery is reported to have taken place at around 9.40am on January 5 at a US Bank branch in the 700 block of Colorado Boulevard.
Investigators say surveillance footage shows a man entering the bank wearing a bright orange construction‑style jacket with the words “Tech Ops” printed on the back, along with a dark beanie and grey jogging bottoms.
Police said the suspect approached a member of staff and demanded money before fleeing the building on foot, heading east from the scene.
Mr Martinez allegedly held up a bank on Jan 5
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Charles Christopher Martinez
Officers later recovered the distinctive jacket nearby. Authorities have not confirmed whether any cash was taken.
Within hours, Denver Police and the FBI released images of the suspect as part of a crime alert bulletin, and Mr Martinez was identified and arrested several days later.
In The Life Of An Outlaw, Mr Martinez described his history of criminal activity and the lengthy prison sentences that followed.
The FBI has confirmed he admitted guilt to five separate robbery charges in April 1999.
Denver Police release
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Denver Police X
His memoir recounts his decision to associate with the Surenos prison gang — a group operating under the influence of the Mexican Mafia — which he wrote was a survival tactic during his incarceration.
Promotional material for the book refers to navigating what it calls the “dog eat dog world” of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, portraying the facilities as among the most violent in the United States.
Mr Martinez has previously cited authors including John Grisham, Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett as influences on his writing, and went on to publish at least one additional work of crime fiction after releasing his memoir.
He is currently being held at Denver Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on February 3, where he is expected to face charges related to bank robbery.
Bank robbery is a federal offence in the United States
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GETTY
Bank robbery is a federal offence in the United States and carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
An FBI spokesman said the precise federal charges will not be disclosed until Mr Martinez appears before a federal judge, a step that cannot take place until he is transferred from the Denver detention facility.
No timeline has been given for when that transfer will occur.
Because the alleged offence falls under federal jurisdiction, the case is expected to move out of the state system, with proceedings anticipated to take place in a federal court in the Denver area.
