A Lawrence man has entered a guilty plea in the federal court in Boston for his role in the December 2023 armed robbery of a Lawrence jewelry store, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Rosnel Polanco, 26, confessed to a charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, which stems from an incident where he and allegedly his co-conspirators stole more than $500,000 worth of jewelry and precious metals.
During this heist on Dec. 15, 2023, Polanco and others reportedly entered the store with firearms, terrifying employees present and stealing their jewelry and cell phones. The criminals then allegedly escalated the threat by pointing guns at the victims and forcing them into the basement to where the store's office and safes were located. It is in the court documents that the owner was compelled to open the safes under distress; however, a second safe remained unopened. The details following the robbery disclose a torched Nissan Altima found in Maine, believed to be the getaway vehicle.
Justice awaits as U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton has set August 12, for the sentencing of Polanco, which could result in up to 20 years in prison and additional fines. The U.S. Attorney's Office announcement underlined that a conviction on the Hobbs Act robbery charge also could include up to three years of supervised release.
The case has seen a group effort in the investigation, with contributions from numerous law enforcement agencies. The Cumberland County (Maine) Sheriff's Department and police departments in Norway and Oxford, Maine, provided valuable assistance, as mentioned in the U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
