Judge Fátima Veloz of the National District Permanent Attention Services Judicial Office has imposed a three-month pretrial detention measure against men implicated in the high-stakes robbery of the Popi Oro Jewelry store in the Cristo Rey sector. Cristo Rey is a low income area and the store was known for its pawn store services. This ruling follows three previous attempts to hold the coercive measure hearing, as the judicial system navigates the complexities of a case involving a “prison-planned” operation.
On Saturday, 7 March 2026, the assailants broke the glass entrance of the store and entered the establishment using heavy weaponry and wearing bulletproof vests, demonstrating a high level of tactical preparation. Thus far, the National Police have recovered 10 yellow-metal chains, several communication radios, and the white SUV used in the escape, which was abandoned after a minor collision during the flight.
The armed robbery of the jewelry is probably the most violent reported. The preliminary investigation linked the crime to a criminal, Juan Alexander Galvez Marte, who is serving his sentence in the La Victoria jail. The other defendants identified in the court proceedings are Hensy Yoel Reynoso Abreu and Wilkin Jhonatan de los Santos (known as “El Cojo” or “El Mocho”).
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Massive losses reported
According to official reports, the theft resulted in a staggering loss of inventory and cash. The owner of the jewelry, Abrahan Corporán Merbournes (Popi Oro) said that over 1,340 grams of 14-karat gold were stolen, and various gold chains weighing more than 5,000 grams, as well as RD$300,000 in cash for losses of RD$50 million. Corporan stated the financial impact of the robbery is devasted. He estimated his losses at around RD$50 million and said he owes suppliers roughly RD$15 million.
Ongoing manhunt
The National Police and the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) are coordinating efforts to locate several fugitives linked to the robbery. The suspects still at large have been identified by the following aliases:
• Wilmer Rafael Solano García (“El Mello Sangriento”)
• Wilner Rafael Solano García (“El Mello Loco”)
• Deiby (“Deiby el Sicario”)
• Lenin
• “El Grande”
• Justin Guerrero (“El Boricua”)
The National Police, represented by spokesperson Diego Pesqueira, revealed that the violent robbery of the Popi Oro jewelry store in Cristo Rey was orchestrated from within the La Victoria National Penitentiary. The prime suspect, Juan Alexander Gálvez Marte (alias “Alex Bronx”), is currently serving a 30-year sentence for a prior homicide.
During a targeted raid on Gálvez Marte’s cell, authorities seized 28 mobile phones, which investigators believe were used to coordinate the logistics, recruitment, and getaway for the 12 March 2026 robbery.
The store
The Popi Oro jewelry store, located at Calle 37, No. 49 in the heart of Cristo Rey, is a well-established business owned by Abraham Corporán (commonly known as “Popi Oro”) and his brother Miguel Corporán. The investigation has revealed that the “neighborhood” nature of the business was actually its biggest vulnerability: the robbery was allegedly planned by a frequent client of the store.
As reported in Diario Libre and El Nuevo Diario, the owner, Abraham Corporán, revealed that the robbery was not a random act by outsiders. He said that lead suspect, Hensy Yoel Reynoso Abreu, was a regular client of the store. The owner told investigators that Reynoso Abreu had been visiting the establishment since November 2025 and now acknowledges the man was gathering details to prepare for the heist.
As reported, Reynoso Abreu was actually a middleman for Juan Alexander Gálvez Marte (“Alex Bronx”), the inmate at La Victoria. Bronx would send jewelry to Reynoso Abreu, who would then pawn or sell the items at Popi Oro.
Because he was a known customer, Reynoso Abreu was able to observe the store’s security measures, the layout of the “semi-armored” office, and the movements of the owners without being questioned.
Business operations in Cristo Rey
Popi Oro serves a diverse segment of the Cristo Rey community, acting as both a retail jeweler and a financial lifeline for residents. The store specializes in “Ice Chains” (heavy 14k gold chains) and yellow gold jewelry, which are highly popular in the local urban culture.
Like many jewelry stores in slum areas (barrios), Popi Oro functions as a de facto micro-lender. Clients bring in gold pieces to pawn for immediate cash to cover family emergencies, business expenses, or, as seen in this case, to facilitate other transactions.
Security context
The store was equipped with bullet-resistant glass and a fortified rear office. During the 40-second assault, which occurred under heavy rain at 7pm on Saturday, 7 March 2026, the owners used the rear office as a tactical retreat once their own ammunition ran out while attempting to repel the attackers (who were armed with pistols and a rifle).
The legal defense for the store owners estimate at 6,900 grams of gold worth RD$51 million the stolen booty. They urge the authorities to recover the stolen jewelry. “We urge the director of the National Police to not only have identified the responsible, but that they also recover what was stolen,” he said. Panorama reported that the Police returned 10 gold chains to the owners.
The Cristo Rey robbery reinforces the need to relocate the inmates from the La Victoria Jail currently still under the National Police as inmates are gradually relocated to the Las Parras Jail under the new penitentiary model. Today head of the prison system in the Dominican Republic, Roberto Santana for years has denounced the criminal organization that operate from the La Victoria Jail and the delays in its shut down.
Follow the story in Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario
Show del Mediodia (the video of the robbery)
N Digital
Diario Libre
Panorama
DR1 News
19 March 2026