Jean Torres-Roman, 22, and Newman Castillo Delgado, 23, both Venezuelan nationals, have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in the armed robbery of Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store in Denver. The sentencing follows guilty pleas to charges stemming from the June 2024 incident.
Torres-Roman received a sentence of 235 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Castillo Delgado was sentenced to 240 months after entering a plea agreement on similar charges. Both were ordered to pay restitution totaling $3,939,076.26.
According to facts presented at sentencing and in plea agreements, Torres-Roman, Castillo Delgado, and additional suspects entered the jewelry store on West 38th Avenue on June 24, 2024. During the robbery, weapons were pointed at employees and several staff members were beaten with firearms. Nearly $4 million worth of gold and jewelry was stolen. Multiple victims sustained injuries during the event. Authorities later located the suspects near El Paso, Texas.
The court determined that both defendants are members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), an organized criminal group. A separate indictment alleges that senior leaders of TdA authorized this robbery and directed that proceeds be laundered for the benefit of leadership outside the United States.
“Tren de Aragua members brutally robbed a Denver business and left multiple people with significant injuries,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I am thankful to our team of federal prosecutors, special agents, and task force officers who are making real progress toward eliminating Tren de Aragua in Colorado, and I am grateful that these serious crimes were met with appropriately severe sentences.”
“FBI Denver is focused on protecting our neighborhoods and communities from violent crime and the fear it creates,” said Amanda Koldjeski, Acting Special Agent In Charge, FBI Denver. “Our Violent Criminal Enterprise Task Force will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to pursue the most violent and persistent offenders and hold them accountable.”
United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the sentencings.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations Denver; Denver Police Department; FBI field divisions in Denver and El Paso; Homeland Security Investigations El Paso; U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector; Texas Department of Public Safety; El Paso Police Department; and West Texas Anti-Gang Center. Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczack prosecuted the case.
Case numbers associated with this matter are 24-CR-00247-NYW and 25-CR-00331-PAB.
