Houston Man Convicted of Robbing Traveling Jewelry Salesman

HOUSTON – A 30-year-old resident of Houston had pleaded guilty to cconspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.  

Gabriel Ocampo-Mayorquin admitted in federal court yesterday that he was part of a violent robbery crew that would rob traveling jewelry salesmen during their travels to Houston. 

On Sept. 11, 2009, Ocampo-Mayorquin and Columbian co-conspirators robbed an off-duty Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) officer and an interstate traveling jeweler at gunpoint at 3201 Sage Road in Houston. Ocampo-Mayorquin and Santos Diaz-Soto, 32, approached the TABC officer while he was waiting in his car on the salesman. Diaz-Soto had the gun and Ocampo-Mayorquin a “glass punch” used to break the windows of the car.

After Ocampo-Mayorquin broke the window, Diaz-Soto held the officer at gunpoint, at which time they attempted to steal several watches. The officer fired shots resulting in injuries to both. Diaz-Soto was shot in the back and arms, while Ocampo-Mayorquin was shot in the arm. 

The men then fled into a green Acura that Juan Carlos Valencia, 35, was driving. Immediately thereafter, witnesses observed three suspicious vehicles enter into the Gables Apartment Complex located at 3300 Sage Road to change license plates and switch cars. Ocampo-Mayorquin fled to Mexico after this robbery under an alias, while the others, all Columbian nationals, were charged and sentenced for their various roles in this robbery. 

Ocampo-Mayorquin spent eight years in a Mexican prison, after which the FBI brought him back to the United States face these charges. He will remain in custody pending sentencing, at which time he faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.  

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady is prosecuting the case.