What started as a mid-morning bank robbery in downtown Pueblo has turned into a sweeping federal case, with prosecutors accusing two local men of pulling a gunpoint heist that spiraled into a chaotic string of carjackings across the city.
A federal grand jury has indicted Pueblo residents Mario Lucero, 49, and Esai Maestas Torres, 24, after what authorities describe as an armed robbery at a U.S. Bank branch followed by multiple alleged carjackings. Investigators say firearms were used during the March 27 incident and that several vehicles were taken or targeted before officers closed in and recovered weapons they believe were used in the crime. Both men were ultimately taken into custody.
On Tuesday in Denver, federal prosecutors announced that Lucero and Torres each face one count of bank robbery, three counts of using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of carjacking, and one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. The indictment alleges the pair robbed a U.S. Bank branch and then moved across Pueblo, committing several carjackings. All charges remain allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
How the Robbery Unfolded
Pueblo police say the chaos began on March 27 at the U.S. Bank on Bonforte Boulevard, where two suspects walked into the branch, demanded cash, and grabbed a customer's car keys before taking off, according to the Pueblo Police Department. Officers allege the suspects then tried to steal a Chevrolet Bolt, an Audi Q5, and a Nissan Rogue as they moved through the area.
Investigators say the suspects at one point briefly entered a vehicle that was already occupied by a mother and her children before bailing out and running off on foot, according to the Pueblo Police Department. Police report that both firearms believed to have been used in the robbery were found near the scene. Lucero and Torres were booked into the Pueblo County Jail following their arrests.
Federal Charges and Prosecution
The case has landed in federal court with the Violent Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office taking the lead. It is filed under case number 1:26-cr-00129-SKC, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors say the indictment includes multiple counts tied to brandishing firearms during a crime of violence and alleges that both defendants are prohibited from possessing ammunition because of prior felony convictions.
"The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," the office said in its announcement, underscoring that the case is still at the allegation stage as it moves through federal court.
What the Charges Could Mean
Federal law treats carjacking and violent crimes involving guns as no-joke offenses. According to Cornell Law School, 18 U.S.C. 72119 provides penalties of up to 15 years for carjacking. A separate statute, described by Cornell Law School as 18 U.S.C. 7924(c), contains mandatory consecutive minimum sentences that run on top of any punishment for the underlying crime. Those consecutive penalties make firearm counts a major factor in federal sentencing, and prosecutors say they intend to pursue the matter in federal court.
The FBI's Denver field office highlighted the indictment on X, and local officials say the defendants were booked into the Pueblo County Jail after their arrests, according to FBI Denver on X and the Pueblo Police Department. Federal prosecutors have not yet listed arraignment dates in their public notice; those dates are expected to appear on the federal docket once they are set. For now, Lucero and Torres remain presumed innocent while the case works its way through the system.
Federal and local investigators say this indictment is part of ongoing coordinated work under Project Safe Neighborhoods aimed at reducing violent crime. Pueblo police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers. Additional details about the allegations and the investigation can be found in the U.S. Attorney's press release and the statement from Pueblo police.
