Flores is considered one of seven members of a group that robbed an armored vehicle in 2022. According to the investigation, the criminals tracked the vehicle, which stopped at a roadside rest area north of Los Angeles, and stole jewelry, including diamonds, emeralds, gold, and rubies, as well as expensive watches.
He faced up to 15 years in prison for conspiracy and theft of goods in interstate and international commerce. However, Flores did not plead guilty.
According to case materials, after filing a petition for voluntary departure, Flores was deported by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the end of December. No official comments have been received from the agency.
Flores' attorney filed a motion to dismiss the criminal case, but prosecutors opposed this decision, emphasizing their desire to retain the option to revive the case if the defendant returns to the U.S.
The Guardian reports that Flores had the status of a permanent resident of the U.S. and was free on bail, but he was detained by ICE in September. Prosecutors claim they were not aware of his immigration status and learned of his deportation only after it occurred.
Flores' defense argues that his deportation violated his right to a fair trial, while prosecutors acknowledge that he has evaded prosecution and potential punishment.
The situation has surprised former prosecutors who noted that immigration services typically coordinate their actions with the prosecution in such cases, especially when it involves crimes of this magnitude. Affected jewelry companies are also demanding explanations, pointing out that due to the defendant's departure, they were left without court and fair proceedings.
The robbery occurred in July 2022 after a jewelry exhibition in the San Francisco area. The victims assessed the damage at over $100 million, but Brinks claims that the actual value of the stolen items was significantly lower. According to the lawsuit, during the robbery, one of the truck drivers was asleep, and the other had gone out for food. The Guardian reports that this robbery became the largest in U.S. history in the field of jewelry theft.
