ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — A man nicknamed the "Powder Puff" bandit due to his use of makeup to cover his many face tattoos during bank robberies was sentenced to a decade behind bars after he pleaded guilty late last month in Arapahoe County Court to three felony charges.
The remaining five charges against Paul Hernandez were dismissed as part of the plea deal, court records show. He pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated robbery with a real or simulated weapon.
He was sentenced on Feb. 9 to 10 years on each of the three counts.
Hernandez was arrested on Jan. 29, 2020, for several bank robberies that happened the month before in Aurora and other jurisdictions. They included:
- Jan. 17: TCF Bank, 1710 S. Havana St., Aurora
- Jan. 22: Compass Bank, 4988 N. Federal Blvd., Denver
- Jan. 27 First Bank, 7590 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood
- Jan. 22: TCF Bank, 7203 W. 55th Ave., Arvada
Following his arrest, his bond was set at $150,000 over the objection of prosecutors, a spokesperson for the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office said. Late on Feb. 5, 2020 Hernandez's bond was reduced to $75,000, which he was able to post in June 2020 and at that time he was released. A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to show up for his preliminary hearing that was set for September 2020.
Before that warrant was issued, Hernandez is accused of robbing additional banks beginning in late August. They included:
- Oct. 1: BBVA Compass Bank, 4600 S. Broadway, Englewood
- Sept. 21: First Bank, 3801 S. Federal Blvd., Denver
- Sept. 15: Key Bank, 7372 W. Chatfield Ave., Littleton
- Sept. 8: TCF Bank, 7203 W. 55th Ave., Arvada
- Sept. 3: TCF Bank, 2090 S. University Blvd., Denver
- Aug. 31: TCF Bank, 7206 Federal Blvd., Denver
- Aug. 25: TCF Bank, 2084 S. Broadway, Denver
In two of the robberies, Hernandez displayed a handgun, according to the FBI.
He was eventually re-arrested in Jefferson County on Oct. 9, 2020.
He previously served time on federal charges related to a 2007 robbery, when he was known as the "Bleach Blonde Bandit." The FBI said that the robbery happened on Jan. 25, 2007, at a Chase Bank in Arvada. He was linked to another bank robbery in Arvada days prior on Jan. 16, 2007, according to the FBI.
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