A Durango man was sentenced Thursday to 154 months (almost 13 years) in federal prison for a bank robbery in New Mexico, according to federal officials.

Paul Fichera, 29, pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbing a Four Corners Community Bank in Aztec in May 2017. Fichera admitted to entering the bank wearing a mask, gloves and sunglasses, brandishing a firearm, yelling at people to get on the ground and ordering a bank teller to fill a bag with money, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

After robbing the bank, Fichera got into a vehicle and fled from police, driving into Colorado at a high rate of speed, according to the release.

Fichera was charged with armed robbery and using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Fichera was indicted May 24, 2017, and subsequently pleaded guilty June 22 without the benefit of a plea agreement.

bhauff@durangoherald.com