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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) \u2014 Two people are heading to federal prison after being found guilty for their roles in a $1.3 million jewelry heist in Tampa two years ago, the Department of Justice announced.<\/p>\n
In March 2024, 39-year-old Gina Parra-Martinez and 29-year-old Diego Ramirez-Aldana were two of at least six people who robbed a woman selling jewelry at an exhibition, the DOJ said in a press release.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Florida mother shoots intruder who entered her home, threatened children: sheriff\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n The seller and her sister were exiting a rideshare after the event when a car pulled up, and five masked people got out and rushed them.<\/p>\n The group assaulted the victims and stole their bags. The total value of the stolen goods was estimated to be around $1.3 million, the DOJ said, and they also took $9,000 in cash.<\/p>\n Ramirez-Aldana was identified as a suspect, and his cellphone was traced to the immediate vicinity of the jewelry exhibition a few hours before the robbery occurred.<\/p>\n \u00a0Boyfriend of Florida woman who died in dog attack arrested after 3 dogs found dead in trailer: sheriff\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Investigators connected four vehicles to the crime and found loose gems on the floorboard of one of them, which the victim later confirmed belonged to her. Ramirez-Aldana’s fingerprint was found on the false registration for the vehicle, the DOJ said.<\/p>\n Parra-Martinez’s phone was also traced to the exhibition site, revealing that she had been there a day before the robbery. Additionally, surveillance video showed a woman matching her description walking through the area wearing a baseball cap.<\/p>\n