Federal agents are turning to the public for help tracking down Alberto Perez-Elias, a man prosecutors say is linked to a violent, high-dollar jewelry store robbery in Cape Coral. Perez-Elias is named in a federal superseding indictment tied to a Jan. 6 break-in at Tio Jewelers, and authorities say he is still on the run, considered armed and dangerous, and connected to Hialeah and Miami in a case that has drawn in both local police and federal investigators.
#FBITampa wants to hear from you if you have information about Alberto Perez-Elias. He's wanted for his alleged involvement in the robbery of a jewelry store in Cape Coral on January 6. Perez-Elias is known to have ties to Hialeah and Miami. You can call us with your tip 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit at tips.fbi.gov https://x.com/i/status/2072729572777279659
— FBI Tampa (@FBITampa) July 2, 2026
Federal indictment and charges
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, a superseding indictment filed June 25 charges Perez-Elias and three co-defendants with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, and using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Prosecutors say the crew broke through a wall from a vacant neighboring unit, forced the store manager at gunpoint to open a safe, and made off with thousands of pieces of jewelry worth more than $1 million. If convicted, the defendants face time in federal prison.
FBI seeks tips on suspect’s whereabouts
On July 2, FBI Tampa put out a public call for help, posting Perez-Elias’s photo and details on X and noting his reported ties to Hialeah and Miami, according to FBI Tampa. The bureau describes him as about 5 feet 6 inches tall and roughly 150 pounds and warns that he should be considered armed and dangerous. Agents say information from the public could be key to tracking him down.
How investigators say the heist unfolded
Court records paint a scene that could have been lifted from a heist movie, only with real guns and real victims. An affidavit describes two masked men slipping into an empty unit next to Tio Jewelers, cutting a hole through the bathroom wall, then confronting the manager and forcing him at gunpoint to open a safe. Investigators say the robbers stuffed thousands of pieces of jewelry into garbage bags and a backpack, then fled in a black Infiniti that was later tracked heading back toward the Miami area. Agents reported seizing firearms and clothing during follow-up searches, according to a filing with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Charges and legal exposure
The superseding indictment includes federal Hobbs Act robbery counts along with a firearm enhancement that carries mandatory minimum prison terms, which means any guilty verdict could result in stacked penalties on top of the sentences for the underlying robberies. The Hobbs Act and the firearm provision used in the case are codified in 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), according to the Legal Information Institute and the Legal Information Institute, and prosecutors say those firearm penalties would be added to any sentence for the robbery counts.
How to pass tips to investigators
Anyone who has information on Perez-Elias or the robbery is asked to submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov or call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI, according to the bureau’s contact information. Investigators working the joint case have asked the public to review surveillance and dash-cam video from the Pine Island Road plaza area around Jan. 6. Local coverage has also reported that a suspected getaway driver was previously arrested in the case while Perez-Elias remains at large, as noted by Gulf Coast News Now.
Authorities stress that anyone who sees Perez-Elias should not approach him and should instead contact law enforcement immediately. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, and remains under active investigation by Cape Coral police, the Hialeah Police Department, and the FBI.
