3 Houston men face federal charges in connection with North Austin jewelry store robbery
AUSTIN, Texas - Three men from Houston will be facing federal charges in connection with an armed robbery of a North Austin jewelry store last week.
21-year-old Darius Limar Sonnier, 20-year-old Wallace Diaveon Charles and 18-year-old Tye Joseph-Phillip Gobert have been charged with one count of Interfering with Commerce by Robbery; one count of Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery; one count of Using, Carrying, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; and, one count of Conspiracy to Use/Carry a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, according to a release from the Department of Justice.
Darius Sonnier (Austin Police Department)
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A criminal complaint alleges that Sonnier, Charles and Gobert, along with two others, entered the Korman Fine Jewelry store on Burnet Road on May 7 and stole multiple Rolex watches and other items valued at over $200,000. During the robbery, Sonnier allegedly assaulted and shot a security guard.
The guard required surgery and according to the DOJ, is recovering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen and blunt force trauma to the head. A female employee was also allegedly struck in the back of the head with a gun.
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Wallace Charles (Austin Police Department)
The complaint also alleges that the defendants and their co-conspirators caused substantial damage to the jewelry store estimated at up to $150,000.
Austin police arrested Sonnier, Charles and Gobert in the vicinity of the jewelry store shortly after the robbery, says the DOJ. Authorities are still looking for the two other robbery suspects.
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Tye Gobert (Austin Police Department)
If convicted, the three men face up to life in federal prison, says the DOJ. They remain in custody at this time.
The FBI and the Austin Police Department are investigating this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Anyone who has information about this robbery or the other two suspects is asked to contact the FBI at 210-225-6741 or the Austin Police Department.
