Florida Man (and His Mom) Stole $750,000 in Gold in an Armed Robbery
Mother Lourdes Diaz and her son Julian Flores pleaded guilty on Nov. 27 to charges stemming from a jewelry heist in Florida.
Lourdes Diaz, 56, and her son, Julian Flores, 25, from Naples, Fla., both pleaded guilty on Nov. 27 to charges related to the armed robbery of a business owner in Hialeah, Fla., according to a DOJ press release. The mother and son duo stole $750,000 worth of gold jewelry during the heist.
Both Flores and Diaz pled guilty to all three counts in the indictment, including conspiracy and Hobbs Act Robbery, as well as brandishing and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Sentencing dates have not been scheduled, but both defendants face up to life in prison, according to the DOJ press release.
Casing the Joint
Eunice Sanchez is the owner of Champagne Nails, a salon that provides nail, hair, eyebrow and massage services in Hialeah, Fla., according to a 6 South Florida News report interviewing Sanchez after the incident. Sanchez also sells jewelry in the store.
Sanchez told 6 News that Diaz began coming to her store about a month before the robbery, according to the report. Diaz befriended Sanchez, coming to the shop about three times a week to get all the salon’s services. Sanchez also said that Diaz took an interest in the jewelry for sale but never bought anything.
Flores Attacked Victim, Stole Bag of Jewelry
On Sept. 16, 2023, Sanchez was taking a luggage bag of jewelry from her store to her SUV when Flores, who had been waiting outside in a white rental SUV with his mother, Diaz, ambushed her, as shown in this graphic surveillance footage. Flores, wearing dark clothes and a white ski mask, tried to take the luggage bag, brandishing a revolver. When Sanchez refused to let go of the luggage, Flores was shown pistol-whipping Sanchez in the head and face.
Even after falling to the ground, Sanchez held on to the suitcase until Flores fired a shot from the revolver toward the ground, according to the DOJ press release. Sanchez let the luggage go, and Flores fled with the case to the white SUV where Diaz was waiting to drive them away.
The attack left Sanchez with bruises on her face, hand and the back of her head, and she had a large gash on the top of her head that needed stitches, according to 6 News reporting with images of the injuries. Sanchez was taken to the hospital for treatment and got a call two days later from Diaz, who claimed to be concerned and wanted to know if Sanchez was okay.
Caught With Gold in Hand
Flores was arrested on Oct. 2, 2023, according to the DOJ press release. He was wearing some of the stolen jewelry at the time of his arrest. After her son’s arrest, Diaz hid Sanchez’s stolen jewelry in a safe at the home of one of Flores’ associates.
On Oct. 3, 2023, Diaz was arrested, and a search of the associate’s residence led to the discovery of the remainder of the stolen jewelry, according to the DOJ press release. 1,300 pieces of jewelry had been stolen from Sanchez, the value worth $750,000, according to the 6 News report.
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