A man faces charges for robbing a courier for a Bolivian gold mining company of more than $2 million worth of gold that the victim had in a luggage as he got off the elevator at his Coral Gables apartment building, authorities said.
Raonel Valdez-Valhuerdis, 34, was arrested on Monday in connection to the Oct. 12 robbery, the arrest affidavit said. It wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney. He faces charges of robbery with a firearm, battery and grand theft over $100,000, authorities said.
George Villegas told NBC 6 South Florida that he was heading to his family business with two rolling suitcases containing 110 pounds of gold when three guys stopped him early Friday morning.
"And they took the gun out and said in Spanish, we've come for the gold – we just want the gold," Villegas said.
According to the affidavit, Valdez-Valhuerdis shoved a semi-automatic pistol in the victim's face and yelled "We're here for the gold!"
"This was very well planned. They knew I had received the gold," Villegas said. "They were waiting for me outside the elevator at 7:30 in the morning.”
Valdez-Valhuerdis is accused of hitting the victim with his forearm and shoving him into the elevator. Meanwhile, two other people stole two pieces of luggage from Villegas as he was held at gunpoint, authorities said.
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Villegas said that aside from scratches he is fine.
"I tried to wrestle the guy down, but just let them go. Nothing is worth it – not even $2.6 million," he said.
All three people fled the scene, but Villegas positively identified Valdez-Valhuerdis from a photographic lineup, authorities said. He was on supervised house arrest and had a GPS bracelet attached to his ankle, the report said.
Tracking information showed that he was at the location of the robbery during the incident, according to authorities.
The owner of the gold is offering $15,000 as a reward for the return of the stolen gold, police said.
