Reward Offered In Coral Gables Gold Heist
CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) – A Bolivian based company, which sells gold to refineries in South Florida, is offering a reward for information which leads to the recovery of nearly $3 million in gold stolen from one of their couriers.
The robbery occurred in October 2012. Quri Wasi employee George Villegas was attacked and robbed by three men as he was transporting 110 pounds of gold flakes to an Opa-locka refinery. The robbery took place just steps away from the Coral Gables Police department headquarters.
Raonel Valdez Valhuerdis, 34, who police officers said was wearing a satellite-monitoring device during the robbery, was equipped with a second GPS ankle monitor before he was released on bond. Day later he vanished.
David Bolton of Bolton Investigations, which has been retained by Quri Wasi to help recover the gold, said he could believe the judge released Valdez, the mastermind of the robbery, on $75,000 bond.
"My clients want justice and they are angry that the judge unleashed this dangerous man on the public as he has a lengthy arrest history of violence and drugs as well as ties to international crime rings and Cuban migrant smuggling in Mexico," said Bolton.
Bolton added Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Leon Firtel claimed there was not enough evidence to charge Valdez with armed robbery since police officers did not recover a weapon so a high bond was granted. Days after Valdez's release, investigators said they lost the signal from his second tracking device.
"The company is encouraging anyone with information to come forward by offering a $25,000 reward for the return of the stolen precious metals," said Bolton.
Bolton said they're not sure how Valdez and the others knew about the shipment.
