16 charged in violent crime conspiracy involving armed robbery of jewelry stores

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed charges against 16 alleged members of a violent crime conspiracy responsible for the armed robbery of jewelry stores and armed carjacking.

Federal law enforcement agents arrested eight defendants on Aug. 30; the other eight were previously arrested.

Twelve of the defendants are from Washington, D.C. One defendant, Hesham Gomaa, 45, is from Virginia. Two are from Maryland, and one is from California.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired in D.C. to commit armed robberies targeting jewelry stores owned by Asian Americans in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

One of the stores they robbed – on Jan. 27, 2023 – is Princess Diamonds in the Eden Center in Seven Corners.

The other robberies, between Jan. 7 and Dec. 22, 2022, included Yasini Jewelers in Falls Church, Sonia Jewelers & Boutique in Springfield, and Sara Emporium Jewelry & Boutique in Springfield.

Disguised in dark clothing, masks, and gloves, and armed with a gun, one or more of the defendants used various vehicles, including stolen vehicles, to commit and flee from the robberies.

Charges include conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce robbery (known as the Hobbs Act), interference with interstate commerce by robbery, using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit carjacking, and conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

Catching the alleged criminals was a collaborative effort by the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI’s Washington and Newark field offices, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

“The defendants targeted small businesses along the East Coast, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry from hardworking families,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI.

“It is devastating that firearm-related violence such as the crimes committed throughout this investigation has become so prevalent within our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai. “We will continue collaborating with our law enforcement partners by holding those individuals who seek to harm innocent people accountable for their actions.”