MIAMI — Julian Flores, 25, and his mother, Lourdes Diaz, 56, both of Naples, Florida, have pleaded guilty to charges related to the violent armed robbery of $750,000 worth of gold jewelry from a business owner in Hialeah, federal prosecutors announced.
The robbery occurred on Sept. 16, 2023, when the victim was loading a suitcase of gold jewelry into a vehicle in a Hialeah parking lot. Diaz, driving a rented white SUV, positioned the vehicle while Flores, masked and armed with a revolver, rushed at the victim. Flores struck the victim multiple times with the firearm during a struggle for the suitcase. After firing a shot into the ground, Flores managed to seize the suitcase and escape in the SUV driven by Diaz.
Authorities arrested Flores on Oct. 2, 2023, and discovered he was wearing jewelry stolen during the robbery. The following day, Diaz was arrested after attempting to hide a safe containing the stolen jewelry in the home of one of Flores’s associates. Law enforcement recovered the safe and the remaining stolen jewelry during a search of the residence.
On Nov. 22, 2024, Diaz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Flores entered his guilty plea to similar charges on Nov. 26, 2024, including discharging a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Both face maximum sentences of up to life in prison. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after a review of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Hialeah Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling M. Paulson is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts and community partnerships.