Convicted Thief Charged with New Bank Robbery

A man with a history of bank robberies, Charles Christopher Martinez, 48, has been arrested for another robbery that took place in Colorado earlier this month.

Martinez was taken into custody on January 8, just three days after he allegedly held up a teller at a U.S. Bank branch in Denver, according to police reports.

Authorities say he demanded cash but it’s unclear how much, if any, he actually managed to steal before fleeing.

Denver police and the FBI released a “crime alert” featuring a photo of the suspect, describing him as a middle-aged man dressed in a bright orange jacket, a fluffy black beanie, and gray sweatpants.

After some investigation, police identified Martinez as the suspect and announced his arrest in a January 12 update.

In 2018, he authored an autobiography entitled “The Life of an Outlaw,” where he recounted his previous bank heists and his experiences as a member of the Surenos prison gang, which he claims is connected to the Mexican Mafia.

In his book’s description, Martinez mentions his need to rely on connections to navigate the harsh realities of prison life, describing it as “some of the most ruthless and bloody prisons the American justice system has to offer.”

He teases readers to “follow the true events of a real-life bank robbery” and to explore the complexities of the federal prison system.

Martinez has cited well-known authors like John Grisham and Ken Follett as sources of inspiration. His autobiography has received one positive review on GoodReads from a woman whose son experienced the California Correctional Institute. She wrote, “This story really touched my heart. Thank you for having the courage to share your story. God bless you and keep you safe.”

Currently, Martinez is being held in a Denver jail and is set to appear in court on February 3. Given that bank robbery is federally charged, it’s likely that his case will move to federal court in Denver, where the penalties can exceed 20 years in prison.