Las Vegas man sentenced to 4 years for Coinstar kiosk crime spree

July 17, 2026 (DENVER) – A Denver District Court judge yesterday sentenced Richard Pena, 37, of Las Vegas, Nevada to four years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for stealing more than $65,700 from Coinstar kiosks over a four-day period in November 2021.

“This case wasn’t pocket change—it was real loss for businesses and communities along the I-70 corridor. Through hard investigative work, prosecutors in the Special Prosecutions Unit were able to bring justice for this 2021 coin-cashing kiosk heist that stretched from Grand Junction to Thornton. I’m grateful for our partnership with the Thornton Police Department and Coinstar in the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said Attorney General Weiser.

Coinstar kiosks are automated machines, designed to accept loose coins in exchange for paper currency or gift cards. Coinstar kiosks are the size of a large vending machine and are typically installed within retail or grocery stores.

According to an April 2022 statewide grand jury indictment (PDF), 11 separate Coinstar kiosks were burglarized at stores in Mesa, Eagle, Adams, and Jefferson counties, and in Denver between November 4 and 7, 2021. During this four-day period, the total loss in coin and bin value exceeded $73,000. Investigators used various sources and techniques to identify Richard Pena as the person responsible for the 11 burglaries and the theft. The thefts in Colorado matched a pattern of Coinstar kiosks thefts that began in Southern California and spread to other Western states.

The state grand jury indicted Pena on 11 charges of third-degree burglary, all class 5 felonies. He pleaded guilty to one count of class 4 felony theft for all 11 incidents. In addition to prison time, the judge ordered Pena to pay restitution in the amount of $77,044.06 to Coinstar. Prior to sentencing in Colorado, Pena was serving a federal sentence in Oregon for similar thefts from Coinstar he committed in other states.

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Media Contact:
Lawrence Pacheco
Chief Communications Officer
(720) 508-6553 office
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov