One of my favorite Buffs, admits to stealing bank deposits.
Former University of Colorado running back Bobby Purify is serving a two-day sentence in the Boulder County Jail this week after admitting to police he stole more than $12,000 from a Wells Fargo bank that he worked at in 2012.
Purify, now 33, played for the Buffs from 2000 to 2004, and was briefly signed to the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers before moving to the indoor football leagues.
He pleaded guilty to felony theft between $2,000 and $5,000 on July 31 and was sentenced to two days in jail, two years probation and 48 hours community service, and ordered to pay restitution.
According to an arrest affidavit, the Wells Fargo branch at 1690 Canyon Blvd. in Boulder reported in 2012 that Purify's cash drawer was short $5,730.
Several other businesses and organizations — including American Vernacular Dance, Feel Good Corps, North Boulder Liquor and Boulder High School — filed complaints saying there were discrepancies in their cash deposits.
Purify was identified as the employee who processed all of those transactions, according to the arrest affidavit.
In total, Wells Fargo told Boulder police that $13,776.34 went missing.
Purify told police he stole the cash out of his drawer and admitted to also stealing the deposits from American Vernacular Dance and Feel Good Corps.
But he denied taking money from North Boulder Liquor and Boulder High School.
Advertisement
All told, Purify admitted to taking $12,424.34 in cash, according to Boulder police records. He was ordered to pay the full $13,776.34 in restitution.
Wells Fargo said Purify resigned from the bank just days after the missing cash was reported. According to the affidavit, Purify said he stole the money to help a family member pay off medical bills.
During the investigation, Purify sent a letter to Boulder police apologizing for his actions.
"I am not a bad person and I have never been in any type of trouble," Purify wrote. "I give to the community and volunteer my time to nonprofit organizations."
A warrant for Purify's arrest was signed in October 2012, but the case remained open until Purify was arrested in Denver in May.
Boulder County Jail records show Purify was booked into the Boulder County Jail to begin serving his sentence at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Purify played running back at CU, and finished his four-year career as the school's third-leading rusher all time, amassing 3,016 career rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.
In his senior season, Purify led the CU Buffs in rushing with 1,017 yards and was honorable mention all-Big 12. He also was voted by his teammates as the most valuable player on the team.
Purify was signed briefly in the NFL with the 49ers and the Packers before playing in indoor leagues. He retired from professional football in 2011.
Purify is originally from California, but attended high school in Colorado Springs.
Mitchell Byars: 303-473-1329, byarsm@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars
Former University of Colorado running back Bobby Purify is serving a two-day sentence in the Boulder County Jail this week after admitting to police he stole more than $12,000 from a Wells Fargo bank that he worked at in 2012.
Purify, now 33, played for the Buffs from 2000 to 2004, and was briefly signed to the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers before moving to the indoor football leagues.
He pleaded guilty to felony theft between $2,000 and $5,000 on July 31 and was sentenced to two days in jail, two years probation and 48 hours community service, and ordered to pay restitution.
According to an arrest affidavit, the Wells Fargo branch at 1690 Canyon Blvd. in Boulder reported in 2012 that Purify's cash drawer was short $5,730.
Several other businesses and organizations — including American Vernacular Dance, Feel Good Corps, North Boulder Liquor and Boulder High School — filed complaints saying there were discrepancies in their cash deposits.
Purify was identified as the employee who processed all of those transactions, according to the arrest affidavit.
In total, Wells Fargo told Boulder police that $13,776.34 went missing.
Purify told police he stole the cash out of his drawer and admitted to also stealing the deposits from American Vernacular Dance and Feel Good Corps.
But he denied taking money from North Boulder Liquor and Boulder High School.
Advertisement
All told, Purify admitted to taking $12,424.34 in cash, according to Boulder police records. He was ordered to pay the full $13,776.34 in restitution.
Wells Fargo said Purify resigned from the bank just days after the missing cash was reported. According to the affidavit, Purify said he stole the money to help a family member pay off medical bills.
During the investigation, Purify sent a letter to Boulder police apologizing for his actions.
"I am not a bad person and I have never been in any type of trouble," Purify wrote. "I give to the community and volunteer my time to nonprofit organizations."
A warrant for Purify's arrest was signed in October 2012, but the case remained open until Purify was arrested in Denver in May.
Boulder County Jail records show Purify was booked into the Boulder County Jail to begin serving his sentence at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Purify played running back at CU, and finished his four-year career as the school's third-leading rusher all time, amassing 3,016 career rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.
In his senior season, Purify led the CU Buffs in rushing with 1,017 yards and was honorable mention all-Big 12. He also was voted by his teammates as the most valuable player on the team.
Purify was signed briefly in the NFL with the 49ers and the Packers before playing in indoor leagues. He retired from professional football in 2011.
Purify is originally from California, but attended high school in Colorado Springs.
Mitchell Byars: 303-473-1329, byarsm@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/mitchellbyars
