Victor Santiago-Rivera, 42, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, is staring down federal charges after allegedly trying to rip off Simon and Co. Jewelers in Kingston, Pennsylvania — a brazen move that ended not in loot, but in a grand jury indictment.
The federal indictment, handed down January 17, 2017, charges Santiago-Rivera with attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a Glock 17 firearm. Prosecutors say the attempted heist went down January 6, 2017, when the defendant allegedly walked into the jewelry store armed and ready — but didn’t get far before law enforcement moved in.
According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Santiago-Rivera’s criminal past seals the firearms charge: he’s previously been convicted of a felony punishable by more than a year behind bars, making it illegal for him to possess any firearm under federal law. That prior record turns a robbery attempt into a federal slam-dunk case.
The takedown was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kingston Police Department — part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (VCRP), a coordinated push across the Middle District of Pennsylvania to nail repeat offenders and gun-toting criminals before they strike again.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is leading the prosecution. If convicted, Santiago-Rivera faces up to 20 years in prison for the attempted robbery, plus three years of supervised release and a steep fine. The gun charge adds another 10 years maximum, with identical post-release supervision.
As always, the indictment is not a conviction. Santiago-Rivera is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. But under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the judge will weigh the severity of the attempted crime, the defendant’s criminal history, and the need to protect the public — all before a single day behind bars is served.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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