(IDEX Online) - Two men and a woman have been charged with a series of robberies on staff at jewelry stores across South Florida, USA, that netted merchandise worth millions of dollars.
They are accused of conspiring to commit Hobbs Act robbery - taking property by means of actual or threatened force - in Miami Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach and Fort Pierce.
The US Justice Department identifies the defendants as Allan Lucas, 30, of Miami, Diana Grisales Basto, 37, a Colombian national, and Carlos Morales, 44, of Miami. They are charged with six, five and two counts respectively.
All three are charged with "forcefully taking and attempting to take jewelry and other property from victims engaged in the business of buying and selling jewelry throughout South Florida, between September 2019 and December 2020".
Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison....