MajorsAug 21, 2025
Claire’s Finds Buyer, Could Save up to 950 StoresThe retailer, which recently filed Chapter 11, inked a deal to sell its North American business and intellectual property.
CrimeMay 03, 2019
Robbery Crew Charged in Heists of Jewelry Salespeople
They allegedly robbed wholesale jewelers after watching them for days, stealing more than $1 million worth of goods over the past 18 months.
Los Angeles—A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted five members of a robbery crew who allegedly netted $1 million in jewelry through a series of “well-planned” heists.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the group committed “sophisticated” heists by following wholesale jewelers—traveling jewelry salespeople or those exhibiting at jewelry trade shows—and bank customers, at times for days, and then robbing them.
The thieves stole more than $1 million worth of jewelry and tens of thousands of dollars in cash over the past 18 months.
The five defendants have been identified as:
— Federico Santiago Quiroz Lucca, 51, of Los Angeles;
— Roberto Melendez Falcon, 51, of Los Angeles;
— Roberto Alonso Castellanos, 48, of Pomona, California;
— Jose Oscar Cupitre Nuñez, 47, of Australia; and
— Jose Manuel Lopez Molina, 45, of Colombia.
Each man is charged with participating in a conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Lucca, the crew’s alleged leader, and Nuñez also both face a count of interference with commerce by robbery.
According to an affidavit, the defendants surveilled and and then robbed jewelry salespeople and bank customers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver between October 2017 and April 2019.
Lucca allegedly led and organized the crew’s activities, enlisting help from Colombian nationals, who traveled to Los Angeles to take part.
Court documents show the heists all followed a similar pattern. A member of the crew known as a “scout” would identify a victim who was likely to be carrying jewelry or cash. The victims typically were doing business at standalone jewelry stores or in malls in Orange County, California, the Jewelry District in downtown Los Angeles, or at jewelry trade shows.
The scout would then follow the victim and wait for an opportunity when they could rob her or him.
The group allegedly followed victims to locations like gas stations and hotels, and then employed a ruse—such as puncturing their car tires and then posing as a Good Samaritan—or simply used force to rob them.
For example, court papers state that on Feb. 8, 2018, Lucca spent four hours following a traveling jewelry salesman who was making rounds to jewelry stores in Orange County.
When he returned to his car after a stop in Cypress, he was violently pushed from behind and he fell into his car door. The thieves made off with his bag containing approximately $400,000 in jewelry.
All five
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
men are currently in federal custody after being arrested in April. They are scheduled for arraignment in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles today.
If convicted, Lucca and Nuñez would face a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison, and the others would face statutory maximum sentences of 20 years in prison.
If convicted, Lucca and Nuñez would face a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison, and the others would face statutory maximum sentences of 20 years in prison.
More on Crime
The Latest
MajorsAug 21, 2025
Target Names New CEO as Sales Continue to Lag Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down in February and be replaced by the company’s chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke.
Policies & IssuesAug 21, 2025
JA, IDMA Talk Tariffs With Execs in DC The group met with the president's senior trade advisor earlier this week to express the industry’s concerns about the effects of tariffs.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
MajorsAug 21, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Pops Up at 2025 US OpenThe pop-up will display this year's Tiffany & Co. Singles Championship trophies along with a diamond-encrusted tennis racket and ball.
Weekly QuizAug 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsAug 20, 2025
Bellman’s Jewelers Opens Second Store After COO's TikTok Takes OffThe New Hampshire-based store has expanded to Boston, propelled by the success of Alex Bellman’s TikTok page, “The Truthful Jeweler.”
WatchesAug 20, 2025
Oris Launches Watch Benefiting NYC Harbor Oyster RestorationThe new aqua green New York Harbor Limited Edition II is the watchmaker’s second collaboration with the Billion Oyster Project.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
Events & AwardsAug 20, 2025
Take the Jewelers for Children ‘Trinity of Purpose’ ChallengeParticipants who attend any three Rings of Strength events will be awarded a special medal.
SourcingAug 19, 2025
Dubai’s Jemora Group Buys Diamond Miner LucapaThe investment company, founded by Dev Shetty, has acquired the struggling miner and its assets, including the Lulo mine in Angola.
ColumnistsAug 19, 2025
Peter Smith: The Arrival Fallacy and Jewelry RetailSmith shares wisdom he gleaned from a podcast he was listening to one morning while being walked by his dog, a Malshi named Sophie.
MajorsAug 19, 2025
MJSA Apprenticeship Program Is Nationally RecognizedThe MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program received the Registered Apprenticeship Program designation by the U.S. Department of Labor.
WatchesAug 19, 2025
Casio America Names New Timepiece Division ManagerCasio executive and watch enthusiast Masaki Obu is the new general manager of its U.S. timepiece division.
MajorsAug 18, 2025
Verragio’s Michael Barabash, a ‘Kind Soul,’ Dies at 58Barabash, Verragio’s client relations representative, was a vital member of the team and is remembered as being warm and full of life.
CollectionsAug 18, 2025
John Hardy’s New ‘Dot’ Collection Is on PointOriginally introduced in 1992, the “Dot” collection is back with a capsule featuring five archival designs and three new creations.
Events & AwardsAug 18, 2025
IJO Announces 2025 Vendor of the YearAllison-Kaufman has received the honor for the fourth year in a row.
FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
EditorsAug 15, 2025
Piece of the Week: Etho Maria’s Showgirl-Approved Ruby Drop Earrings Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LAThe full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
SourcingAug 13, 2025
ICA Names 2025 Board of DirectorsThe board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Colorado Jeweler, Whiskey Maker Collab on Ring GiveawayThree winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.
SurveysAug 13, 2025
These Are The 25 Hottest Retailers, Says NRFJD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.
