Charges Filed in Gold Heist Case

A third individual has been indicted on charges related to the armed robbery of gold bars.

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office made the announcement.

Pedro Santamaria, 56, is charged by indictment with conspiring to commit a Hobbs Act robbery and with conspiring to use and carry a firearm in furtherance of that robbery.  The indictment alleges that Santamaria conspired to commit these crimes with Adalberto Perez and Roberto Cabrera, both of whom previously pled guilty for their involvement in the robbery (Case Nos. 16-Cr-20158-JAL and 16-Cr-20160-KMM). 

According to the court records, including the indictment, Santamaria, Perez and Cabrera caused noxious fumes to fill the cabin of the TransValue, Inc. truck that was transporting gold bars to Massachusetts.  At gunpoint, two robbers removed and bound the TransValue employees.  The robbers then transferred the gold bars to their vehicle and fled.

An indictment contains allegations.  Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the FBI for their continued assistance in this matter.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gilfarb and Alejandra Lopez.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.