Denver, CO
“Prolific thief” pleads guilty to making millions illegally through Denver construction and investment schemes
A 40-year-old man who stole money from families in Denver that he said he would do construction projects for was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Thursday. The sentencing followed a guilty plea by Kyle Arienta for the construction crimes as well as several other offenses, including burglaries at homes in several different Denver neighborhoods where he was caught on camera. The Denver District Attorney’s Office called him a “prolific thief” who “often preyed” on friends and acquaintances.
Arienta pleaded guilty on Thursday, right before his sentencing on charges of securities fraud, theft, burglary and violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office. He had been indicted by a grand jury 11 months ago.
Three families who were seeking the construction work were victimized by Arienta. He stole slightly more than $1 million from them, the DA’s office says. After agreeing to work with Arienta, the families said the work had hardly started before Arienta abandoned the projects.
The burglaries took place a year ago in the following neighborhoods:
– Crestmoor
– Hilltop
– Washington Park
-Belcaro
The DA’s office says Arienta also stole about $1.7 million in all from people he knew through an investment scheme. The office says he “violated the trust of his clients and friends” by convincing them to invest money into faked construction projects.
As part of his sentence, Arienta agreed to pay $3.3 million in restitution to his victims.
Denver, CO
Rockies beat reporter Patrick Saunders to leave Denver Post

Denver, CO
Pedestrian dies after hit by car on southbound E-470, Aurora police say
AURORA, Colo. — A pedestrian died Thursday morning after he was hit by a car on southbound E-470, the Aurora Police Department said.
The crash happened around 6:19 a.m. Thursday, according to the E-470 Toll Authority, shutting down the highway between 48th and 56th Aves. for approximately three hours. The stretch of road reopened around 9:24 a.m. Thursday, according to the E-470 Toll Authority.
A 34-year-old man intentionally jumped in front of a white Chevrolet Silverado driving on southbound E-470, according to the initial Colorado State Patrol (CSP) investigation.
- Watch the full Denver7 traffic report in the video player below.
Deadly vehicle, pedestrian crash shuts down stretch of SB E-470: Aurora PD
The driver of the Chervolet was not injured and stayed on scene to assist law enforcement with the investigation, CSP said.
Traffic was diverted off E-470 at 48th Ave. during the closure, the E-470 Toll Authority said, advising drivers to find alternate routes. Northbound E-470 remained open during the fatal crash investigation led by CSP.
Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Jayson Luber
Denver7 traffic expert Jayson Luber knows Colorado roads like the back of his hand – but he’s always looking for stories impacting transportation in our state for his Driving You Crazy podcast and beyond. If you’d like to get in touch with Jayson, fill out the form below to send him an email.
Denver, CO
New report finds Denver metro home buyers and sellers experiencing ‘unattainability fatigue’
Higher mortgage rates are discouraging buyers and sellers, and slowing market activity along the way across the Denver metro, according to a Denver Metro Association of Realtors May market trends report.
“There’s a lot of fatigue going on, and specifically due to interest rates, Denver has seen a pretty typical 6% average price appreciation, but the last couple of years it’s been relatively flat. However, that’s just kind of made up for the fact that during the pandemic we saw huge appreciation gains,” said Heather O’Leary, a realtor and a member of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors market trends committee.
Watch more of Micah Smith’s interview with Heather O’Leary on the current housing market in the video below.
New report finds Denver metro home buyers and sellers experiencing ‘unattainability fatigue’
O’Leary said from May 2017 to May 2026, the median sale price grew from $382,000 to $615,000, a 6% average annual increase that mirrors the market’s long-run historical norm.
“A median home in the Denver metro area could cost 87% more than it did in 2020 and so buyers are exhausted. That’s where we get the term affordability or unattainability fatigue, because it’s just difficult for them to jump into something. And then sellers are honestly exhausted as well, because they don’t want to have to drop their prices,” O’Leary said.
According to the report, closed sales fell nearly 7% year-over-year, attached-home sales dropped almost 18%, and new listings declined more than 17%.
However, the report found the luxury market is outperforming the broader market.
“Luxury buyers are definitely less affected by interest rates, and we’ve seen 3.1% increase year-over-year in pending sales, and about 5% in closed sales, and that’s really because luxury buyers are less affected by interest rates, because they have more flexibility, potentially more cash and equity in a home,” O’Leary said.
The DMAR Market Trends Committee releases reports monthly, including data for Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson and Park counties.
Denver7
Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Micah Smith
Micah Smith anchors Denver7’s 4 and 5 p.m. newscasts, and reports on issues impacting all of Colorado’s communities. She specializes in telling stories centered on social equity and hearing voices that are unheard or silenced. If you’d like to get in touch with Micah, fill out the form below to send her an email.
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