A mother and son from Hialeah, Florida, are heading to prison after robbing a store owner of $750,000 worth of gold jewelry. Julian Flores, 25, and his mother Lourdes Diaz, 56, both pleaded guilty to serious charges following the violent robbery that took place on September 16.
Flores pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. His mother, Lourdes Diaz, pleaded guilty to similar charges, including discharging a firearm during the robbery.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the crime unfolded when the victim was loading a suitcase full of jewelry into a vehicle in a Hialeah parking lot. Diaz backed a white SUV rental into the lot, and Flores, dressed in black clothing and a ski mask, jumped out. Armed with a gun, Flores rushed the victim, struggling to grab the suitcase. During the altercation, he struck the victim and fired a shot, causing the victim to drop the suitcase. Flores grabbed it, and he and Diaz fled the scene.
Law enforcement quickly tracked down Flores on October 2, arresting him shortly after the robbery. Diaz, who had hidden the stolen jewelry in a black safe at a close associate’s home, was arrested the following day. The DOJ confirmed that law enforcement recovered the black safe, which contained the remaining gold jewelry.
Both Flores and Diaz face significant prison sentences, with each crime carrying a potential sentence of life in prison. Sentencing hearings have yet to be scheduled for the pair.
