Jerome Ruben, who stands accused of a series of violent crimes, including a kidnapping and sexual assault in South Houston and an aggravated robbery on the University of Houston (UH) campus, has reportedly had a history marked by criminal endeavors. According to Click2Houston, the 24-year-old appeared in court this week facing aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, among other charges.
ABC13 reports that Ruben's methodology involved following a female Ace Cash Express employee from her place of work in Baytown to an apartment complex in South Houston. Once there, Ruben is said to have forced his way into the woman's SUV at gunpoint. The victim was eventually unable to retrieve cash and was sexually assaulted, according to court documents.
The details of a brazen disguise used during the UH credit union robbery emerged, with law enforcement sources revealing that Ruben had donned a hijab, a black dress, and fake breasts to execute the theft. These items, along with a large stash of cash, were recovered when Ruben was pulled over, driving the vehicle that matched the description of that used during the robbery escape. His arrest came after the City of South Houston investigators identified him from surveillance footage and a photo lineup identified by the victim.
Ruben's past criminal activity includes misdemeanors, traffic cases, and a 2022 burglary conviction in Galveston County, according to Click2Houston details. He had violated probation stemming from a prior robbery conviction and was instructed to stay off the UH campus—a directive clearly breached during the recent criminal act. His total bond has been set at an accumulative $6 million, with his next court appearance scheduled for February 17.
