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Bronx Man Sentenced To 70 Months In Prison For Armed Robbery Of Jewelry Store Using A Gun, Bear Spray, And Hammers

by Crime Suspects

New York, NY – On September 15, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York issued a press release about a subject who was sentenced for an armed robbery at a jewelry store. The press release is posted verbatim below:

Friday, September 15, 2023

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that PABLO ARMANDO VALENZUELA was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero to 70 months in prison for committing an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Bronx, New York.  VALENZUELA previously pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant committed a violent armed robbery of a Bronx jewelry store and injured innocent employees and bystanders by spraying a can of extremely hazardous bear spray directly into their faces.  Violent criminals who commit firearms offenses and terrorize hardworking New Yorkers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and court filings:

On August 10, 2022, VALENZUELA, along with at least five other co-conspirators, committed an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Bronx, New York, using a firearm, bear spray, and hammers.  On the evening of August 10, VALENZUELA entered the jewelry store wearing a ski mask and sprayed a can of bear spray into the eyes of jewelry store employees, temporarily blinding them.  As customers, including young children, attempted to flee the jewelry store, five other masked robbers entered the store and used hammers to destroy glass display cases.  At least one robber brandished a firearm.  VALENZUELA and the other robbers then stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry.  VALENZUELA fled the jewelry store and sprayed bear spray into the eyes of bystanders, many of whom were then rushed to the hospital.  The robbers then fled in various directions on foot, in cars, and on the backs of mopeds driven by co-conspirators who stood nearby as lookout and getaway drivers.

Photographs of VALENZUELA committing the offense are below:

Valenzuela Robbery Image 1
Valenzuela Robbery Image 2

In addition to his prison term, VALENZUELA, 33, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

VALENZUELA’s co-defendant, AARON MILLER, pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and will be sentenced on December 1, 2023.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda C. Weingarten is in charge of the prosecution.

Contact

Nicholas Biase
(212) 637-2600

Updated September 15, 2023

Topic

VIOLENT CRIME

Component

USAO – New York, Southern Press Release Number:� 23-318

GRAB AND RUN – DOWNEY, CA

by Daily Blog

On 9/9/23, at 10:10 a.m., a retail jewelry store experienced a grab and run theft.� Upon entry into the store, the subject inquired about chains and bracelets.� After viewing and handing back a gold bracelet, the subject then asked to view a Cuban link gold chain.� After the team offered the opportunity to apply for credit, which he accepted, the subject indicated he wanted to try the chain on first.� While he had the chain on, he asked to try on a second chain.� After the sales associate responded that only one chain could be shown at a time and the first one would have to be returned, the subject began to walk off with the chain still on his person.� The subject was described as a Hispanic male in his early 20’s. He is 5’4″, and has a thin build.� He was last seen wearing a grey zip-up sweater, jeans, a black hat, and a mask. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

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Five Men Charged with Using New York Diamond District Companies as Fronts to Illegally Move More Than $600 Million

by Crime Suspects

Newark, NJ – On September 7, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey released a press release of an elaborate financial scheme using front companies. The press release is posted verbatim below:

Thursday, September 7, 2023

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey

NEWARK, NJ. �” Five men who work in New York City’s Diamond District were arrested today and charged with illegally processing more than $600 million through unlicensed money transmitting businesses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Raj Vaidya, 26; Rakesh Vaidya, 51; Shrey Vaidya, 23; and Neel Patel, 26, all of Edison, New Jersey; and Youssef Janfar, aka “Joe Rodeo,” 57, of Great Neck, New York, are each charged by complaint with one count of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business. The defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel in Newark federal court and were released on unsecured bond.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Since 2019, Raj Vaidya, Rakesh Vaidya, Shrey Vaidya, and Patel have operated numerous purported diamond, gold, and jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District, including Arya Diamond Jewellery USA Inc., d/b/a “Karats & Carats,” Diamspark LGD LLC, Royal Diamonds LLC, Raj Gold and Diamond LLC, Royal Arya Jewellery Inc, and Raj Gold and Diamond Inc. Janfar also purportedly operated companies in the Diamond District, including Rodeo of NY, d/b/a “Sarah Jewels.” The defendants used these and other entities as fronts to conduct hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal financial transactions for customers �” including converting cash to checks or wire transfers �” in exchange for substantial fees. At times, they moved millions of dollars in cash in a single day. None of their companies were registered as money transmitting businesses with New York, New Jersey, or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

The charge of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an illegal money transmitting business carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain that any persons derived from the offense or of any pecuniary loss sustained by any victims of the offense, whichever is greatest.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark; and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel; with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, the Morristown Police Department, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation �” Office of Inspector General, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Pesce of the Economic Crimes Unit, Olta Bejleri of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit, and Angelica Sinopole of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

vaidya.complaint.pdf (170.43 KB)

Updated September 7, 2023

Source

SMASH & GRAB – SAN BERNARDINO, CA

by Daily Blog

On 8/30/23, at 7:41 p.m, a jewelry store experienced a smash and grab robbery. Upon entry into the store, the first subject began to smash into two gold cases with a large sledgehammer while the second subject began to select and conceal jewelry pieces into the black bag he was carrying. After the first subject successfully created openings into the two smashed cases, he joined the second subject in selecting various gold items and concealing them into his pocket.

Thirty seconds into the robbery, the security guard who was posted at nearby store, approached the scene to intervene and as a result, the subjects fled without further incident. The subjects escaped with various gold pieces.

Subject #1: A male black wearing an orange hooded sweat top, a mask, dark pants, gloves, and black tennis shoes.

Subject #2 ?” A male wearing an orange hooded Nike sweat top, a mask, gloves,? and light colored pants

If you have any information regarding these subjects, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

BURGLARY – CLOVIS, NM

by Daily Blog

On 09/04/23, at approximately 02:34 a.m., a burglary occurred at a retail jewelry store in a mall.� The subjects, who were fully masked up, entered the site via the store’s front gate after extracting the lock.� The loss appears to be limited to clearance and white sapphire cases.� Three showcases were damaged during the commission of this crime.� No physical description of the subjects was provided. If you have any information, please call the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

GRAB AND RUN – COLUMBIA, SC

by Daily Blog

On 9/4/23, at approximately 4:45 p.m., a retail jewelry store was the victim of a grab and run theft.� A lone male entered the location and began looking at gold chains.� The male looked at several and asked to see a 22″ Cuban Necklace. The item was removed from the showcase and handed to the male.� The male secured the necklace around his neck and then ran out of the store.� The subject was described as a White male in his late 30’s to early 40’s. He is 5’09”, and has a thin build. He was last seen wearing a gray jacket, a black shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.

GRAB AND RUN – TUCSON, AZ

by Daily Blog

On 08/31/23, at 4:40 p.m., a grab and run occurred at a retail jewelry store.� A male subject under the pretense of shopping requested to see multiple chains. Three chains were removed from the showcase by the team member, During the presentation, the subject grabbed the chains and fled the location with the stolen pieces.� There were no reports of injury.�

Subject Description: White male, mid 30’s, dirty blonde hair with scruff on his face. He as last seen wearing blue denim, a blue button up shirt, a blue ball cap, and white Nike sneakers. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org.

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16 suspects charged after committing 9 jewelry store robberies in 4 states

by Crime Suspects

Washington, D.C. – On August 30, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia issued a press release announcing that a crime ring of sixteen suspects have been charged for their involvement in a multitude of crimes including 9 robberies at jewelry stores in the following states: New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Click here to read the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Watch the news clip below to view a press conference about this crime ring.

GRAB AND RUN – EFFINGHAM, IL

by Daily Blog

On 8/26/23, a grab-and-run theft occurred at a jewelry store. A male subject under the pretense of shopping for engagement rings, requested to see two pieces. During the presentation, the team member placed both of the requested pieces on the showcase presentation pad. The subject then grabbed both rings and fled the site with the stolen pieces. There were no reports of injury. A report was immediately filed with the Effingham, IL. PD., who will continue the investigation.

Subject Description: Black male, 5’10”, stocky build, black hair, mid to late 20’s. He was last seen wearing gray shorts and a t-shirt. He also wore white tennis shoes and an orange construction worker’s vest.

SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR SMASH & GRAB

by Daily Blog

On 8/26/23, at approximately 3:05 p.m., 25-year-old Joshua Wilson, of Hempstead, NY entered a jewelry store with a baseball bat. He then used the baseball bat to shatter the store’s display case. The suspect fled from the store on foot towards an area named Ring Road, but he failed to escape with any jewelry. Law enforcement found the suspect less than an hour later. Wilson was charged with attempted robbery, criminal mischief, criminal nuisance, attempted grand larceny, and criminal possession of a weapon.