A federal complaint unsealed Wednesday charges three Lawrence, Massachusetts, men with the armed robbery of a local jewelry store in December 2023, where over half a million dollars worth of valuables were stolen.
Eric Rosario, Rosnel Polanco, and Robert Santana are accused of entering the store armed, robbing employees of their personal belongings, and forcing the owner to open safes at gunpoint.
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According to charging documents, on Dec. 15, 2023, the defendants allegedly entered a Lawrence jewelry store armed with firearms. Numerous employees of the store were present at the time, and it is alleged that the defendants robbed them of their jewelry and cell phones.
The defendants then allegedly pointed firearms at the victims’ heads and pressed the firearms to their backs as they brought the victim employees downstairs to the basement where the jewelry store’s office and safes were located.
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Once downstairs, the defendants allegedly forced the owner of the store to open the safes containing the jewelry and other precious metals. In total, approximately $500,000 in jewelry and precious metals are alleged to have been taken. The second safe could not be successfully opened.
The suspects allegedly fled in a rented Nissan Altima which was later found burned in Maine. Santana was arrested yesterday, while Rosario and Polanco were already in custody on related state charges.
If convicted, the men face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release.
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