Three Individuals Sentenced for Attempted Armed Robbery

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, the third and last defendant was sentenced for the attempted armed robbery of an employee of JC Jewelers Inc., a company doing business as Oro Centro, a commercial entity that operated pawn shops and jewelry stores in Puerto Rico.

According to court documents, on July 13, 2015, at approximately 6:50 p.m., the victim, an employee for Oro Centro Pawn Shops, was transporting gold from the pawnshops in the company van which was to be delivered for transport in interstate commerce to the continental United States. While driving on Highway 22 near the exit for Luis Muñoz Rivera in Santurce, Puerto Rico, close to the Minillas Tunnel, a white car crashed into the victim’s van. The van’s occupants began shooting at the victim. The victim was struck multiple times by gunshots fired by the assailants. The victim shot back injuring another assailant. The assailants fled without completing the robbery.

The assailants were:

1. Josué Pilarte-Suárez: arrested on July 17, 2015, plead guilty on June 20, 2017, and was sentenced on May 19, 2025. He served approximately nine years in prison.
2. Luis Resto-Cruz: arrested on October 19, 2018, plead guilty on December 1, 2025, and was sentenced on February 27, 2026. He served approximately eight and a half years in prison.
3. Rafael Hernández-Maldonado: arrested on December 14, 2021, plead guilty on December 15, 2025, and was sentenced on March 6, 2026, to serve seven and 1/2 years (78 months) in prison.

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico and Claudia Dubravetz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz, Chief of the Violent Crimes and National Security Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Alum prosecuted the case.

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