CrimeJul 06, 2022
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3 Charged in Robberies Targeting Traveling Salespeople
The six-count indictment alleges the suspects stole, or tried to steal, millions in gemstones, jewelry, and property from their victims.
Miami—A federal grand jury in Florida has charged three individuals with robbing traveling jewelry salespeople of millions of dollars’ worth of gemstones, jewelry, and property.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Allan Lucas, Diana Grisales Basto, and Carlos Morales are charged with conspiring to commit Hobbs Act robbery and multiple counts of Hobbs Act robbery for forcefully taking and attempting to take jewelry and other property.
The six-count indictment unsealed June 29 indicates they stole, or tried to steal, the goods from salespeople throughout South Florida between September 2019 and December 2020.
Court documents state the robberies occurred in the following cities: Boca Raton, Miami Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, and Fort Pierce.
Lucas and Grisales Basto were already in state custody, according to the DOJ, and were scheduled to make their initial court appearances on Friday, July 8. No updates on their cases were available as of press time.
Authorities arrested Morales on July 2.
Lucas, 30, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and five counts of Hobbs Act robbery.
Grisales Basto, 37, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and four counts of Hobbs Act robbery.
Morales, 44, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Allan Lucas, Diana Grisales Basto, and Carlos Morales are charged with conspiring to commit Hobbs Act robbery and multiple counts of Hobbs Act robbery for forcefully taking and attempting to take jewelry and other property.
The six-count indictment unsealed June 29 indicates they stole, or tried to steal, the goods from salespeople throughout South Florida between September 2019 and December 2020.
Court documents state the robberies occurred in the following cities: Boca Raton, Miami Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, and Fort Pierce.
Lucas and Grisales Basto were already in state custody, according to the DOJ, and were scheduled to make their initial court appearances on Friday, July 8. No updates on their cases were available as of press time.
Authorities arrested Morales on July 2.
Lucas, 30, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and five counts of Hobbs Act robbery.
Grisales Basto, 37, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and four counts of Hobbs Act robbery.
Morales, 44, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
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