OMAR RICHARD CASTILLO, 35, a Mexican citizen, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to Interference with Commerce by Robbery, in connection with the robbery of a jewelry courier in Bellevue, Washington on September 27, 2007. CASTILLO faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge James L. Robart on March 3, 2008.

According to the plea agreement, CASTILLO was with two other men when they robbed a courier for Los Angeles based Tycoon Jewelry Inc. The men used a van to block the courier’s car in the parking lot of a McDonald’s restaurant in Bellevue. The men approached the courier where he sat in the drivers seat and demanded his keys and wallet. One of the men appeared to have a gun. One of the men broke the rear window of the courier’s car and grabbed his backpack containing more than $200,000 in jewelry. The jewelry was to be shown and sold to jewelry stores in the Seattle area. The robbers fled in the van. Bellevue Police were able to pull the van over on Interstate 90 and the jewels were recovered. Two other men have been charged in the case: Sergio Santamaria and Carlos Vivas.

The case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Brown and Bruce Miyake.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.

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