Mother, son plead guilty in armed robbery of $750,000 in gold jewelry

MIAMI — Julian Flores, 25, and his mother, Lourdes Diaz, 56, both of Naples, Fla., have pleaded guilty to charges related to the armed robbery of $750,000 in gold jewelry from a Hialeah business owner, federal prosecutors said.

The robbery occurred on September 16, 2023, when the victim was loading a suitcase of gold jewelry into a vehicle in a parking lot in Hialeah. Diaz, driving a white rental SUV, positioned the vehicle while Flores, masked and armed with a revolver, rushed the victim. Flores struck the victim several times with the firearm during a struggle over the suitcase. After firing a shot into the ground, Flores was able to grab the suitcase and escape in the SUV driven by Diaz.

Authorities arrested Flores on October 2, 2023 and discovered that he was wearing jewelry stolen during the robbery. The next day, Diaz was arrested after trying to hide a safe containing the stolen jewelry in the home of one of Flores’ associates. Law enforcement officers recovered the safe and the remaining stolen jewelry during the search of the home.

On November 22, 2024, Diaz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence. Flores pleaded guilty to similar charges on November 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 US 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 to reduce violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts and community partnerships.