Florida men sentenced for murders, violent robberies

MIAMI – Three Florida men have been sentenced for their participation in violent robberies and murders. 

  

Senior United States District Judge James I. Cohn has sentenced Jonathan Cruz, 36, Eric Ortiz Melendez, 28, and Jorge Aponte Figueroa, 25, to life in federal prison for their roles in the robberies and murders, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO) has announced.

The sentences follow two federal trials. The first was a Miami trial where, in March 2022, a jury found Aponte Figueroa guilty of carjacking, resulting in death, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The second trial happened in Fort Lauderdale, where, in November 2022, a jury found Cruz, Ortiz Melendez, and Aponte Figueroa guilty of committing armed robbery of nine pawn shops in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties (and conspiring to do so), as well as killing a customer during a robbery in Little Havana, the USAO said.

The jury also found Cruz guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

According to the trial evidence, beginning in October 2016, Cruz, Ortiz Melendez, and Aponte Figueroa, along with five previously convicted co-conspirators, agreed to commit armed robberies of pawn shops throughout South Florida. They reportedly would steal jewelry and resell it.

Cruz reportedly scouted the pawn shops, then organized and directed the robberies.

After obtaining guns and tools from Cruz, the coconspirators would drive to the stores, commit the robberies, and return to Cruz’s home with the jewelry, according to trial evidence. Cruz reportedly would sell the stolen jewelry and give coconspirators their cut.

Shots were fired during robberies in Pembroke Park, West Park, and Miami, one of which resulted in the murder of an elderly customer at a Little Havana pawn shop.

The spree began to unravel after one pawn shop robbery in Hialeah when officers with Hialeah Police Department arrested three of the robbers at the end of a high-speed chase.

Additionally, in May 2017, Aponte Figueroa and two co-conspirators reportedly carjacked at gunpoint an Uber driver while he slept in his minivan. After driving the victim throughout Miami-Dade County, Aponte Figueroa allegedly pointed a gun at him, stole his wallet, and shot the victim seven times, including close-range shots to the head. The victim died.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and acting Special Agent in Charge Maged Benham of the FBI Miami Field Office announced the life sentences.

FBI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Miami-Dade Police Department, City of Miami Police Department, Hialeah Police Department, City of Hollywood Police Department, City of Miami Gardens Police Department, City of Palm Springs Police Department, and Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandra L. López and Jodi Anton prosecuted this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling the asset forfeiture aspect of the case.

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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 17-cr-20487.