Jesus Lara del Toro, 22, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a violent, multi-million dollar robbery at a Denver jewelry store ordered by notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver said.
Several people were pistol-whipped and injured.
“The crew that planned and carried out the robbery knew people would be inside, and they fully intended to terrorize anyone present during the robbery's commission," FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski said.
The heist occurred at the Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store on West 38th Avenue in Denver on June 24, 2024. Lara del Toro, a Venezuelan national, and three other suspects fled to El Paso, Texas.
"Employees and customers were held at gunpoint, several employees were beaten with firearms, and nearly $4 million worth of gold and jewelry were stolen," the U.S. Attorney's Office said Monday.
Two others, Jean Torres-Roman and Newman Castillo Delgado, were previously sentenced and a fourth is scheduled to be sentenced later this year. Lara del Toro pleaded guilty to the crime without a plea agreement.
The jewelry store owners' shop in Thornton was burglarized later in 2024 by crowbar wielding crooks.
Following the second crime, one of the Joyeria El Ruby owners told 9 News: "You feel that frustration, that powerlessness that, once again, what you worked arduously for — from morning to afternoon, all day here — for someone to come and strip you of what's yours, I mean, you feel a lot of powerlessness, a lot of sadness, a lot of pain."
[Photos: U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI]
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