Two Tren de Aragua Members Sentenced In Connection With Armed Robbery Of Denver Jewelry Store

DENVER - The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jean Torres-Roman, 22, of Venezuela, and Newman Castillo Delgado, 23, of Venezuela were each sentenced after pleading guilty to charges related to the armed robbery of the Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store in Denver in June 2024. Torres-Roman was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison. Castillo Delgado was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison. The court also ordered each defendant to pay restitution of $3,939,076.26.

Torres-Roman, who pleaded guilty without an agreement, pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Castillo Delgado pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement, to one count Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Facts established in the plea agreement and at sentencing show that, on the afternoon of June 24, 2024, Torres-Roman, Castillo Delgado, and other suspects entered the Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store on West 38^th Avenue in Denver. During the armed robbery, suspects pointed weapons at employees, brutally beat several employees with their weapons, and took nearly $4 million in gold and jewelry. Multiple victims were injured in the attack. The suspects were later located in the El Paso, Texas area.

At sentencing, the court found that Torres-Roman and Castillo Delgado are members of Tren de Aragua (TdA). A separate indictment in United States District Court for the District of Colorado alleges that this robbery was approved and authorized by senior leaders of TdA, and that those leaders approved and directed that proceeds from the robbery be transported, laundered, and transmitted to enrich the leadership of TdA located outside the United States (United States v. Brawins Dominique Suarez Villegas and Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, 25-cr-331-PAB).

"Tren de Aragua members brutally robbed a Denver business and left multiple people with significant injuries," said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. "I am thankful to our team of federal prosecutors, special agents, and task force officers who are making real progress toward eliminating Tren de Aragua in Colorado, and I am grateful that these serious crimes were met with appropriately severe sentences."

"FBI Denver is focused on protecting our neighborhoods and communities from violent crime and the fear it creates," said Amanda Koldjeski, Acting Special Agent In Charge, FBI Denver. "Our Violent Criminal Enterprise Task Force will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to pursue the most violent and persistent offenders and hold them accountable."

United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the sentencings.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Denver, the Denver Police Department, the FBI Denver Field Division, FBI El Paso Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso Police Department, and West Texas Anti-Gang Center. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczack.

Case Numbers: 24-CR-00247-NYW and 25-CR-00331-PAB