DALLAS – Justice, slow as it may be, finally caught up with Joshua Deunte Caldwell. The 26-year-old Houston man was sentenced today to a staggering 108 months in federal prison for his part in the brazen 2013 robbery of Tilak Jewelers in Irving, Texas. U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade handed down the sentence after Caldwell pleaded guilty last July to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and a weapons charge.
Caldwell wasn’t working alone. The feds indicted twelve individuals in February 2016, all allegedly involved in the meticulously planned heist. Afraybeom Traverom Jackson, 27; Dominique Pearson, 25; Hilton Murdock Aitch, 56; Irving Tyrone Flanagan, 47; Larry Solomon, 42; Terrence Lynn Thompson, 53; Anthony Ray Turner, Jr, 25; Treveon Dominique Anderson, 26; Michael Cornelious, 27; Xavier Rashad Ross, 25, and Vanlisa Scott, 47, all faced the same charges: conspiracy to rob and brandishing a firearm during a crime. To date, ten have pleaded guilty, one trial is slated for January 2018, and one suspect remains at large, dodging authorities.
Court documents paint a grim picture. In the early hours of November 17, 2013, the crew – all hailing from Houston – descended on the Dallas area with one goal: to clean out Tilak Jewelers at 8300 North MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 100. They didn’t come empty-handed. The group stole both a cargo van and a minivan upon arrival, a clear attempt to evade law enforcement. Jackson, Caldwell, Pearson, Turner, Anderson, and Ross took point, rolling up to the store in the stolen cargo van. Aitch, Flanagan, and Thompson acted as lookouts, monitoring the scene for police while maintaining contact with Jackson.
The robbery itself was brutal and efficient. Disguised in long sleeves, pants, gloves, and face coverings, the crew smashed the glass door of Tilak Jewelers with a hammer. Inside, they didn’t hesitate. Owners and employees were quickly restrained with zip-ties while display cases were smashed to bits. The thieves systematically looted the store, grabbing jewelry and making off with the haul. After the robbery, the crew abandoned the cargo van and transferred to a second getaway vehicle, orchestrated by Solomon and Cornelious, attempting to disappear back into Houston.
Vanlisa Scott, who had traveled from Houston, played the role of fence, meeting Pearson and the others to take possession of the stolen jewelry and transport it back to their home city. The Irving Police Department, Houston Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation worked tirelessly on the case, finally bringing Caldwell to justice after over three years in custody since his September 2015 arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Robinson led the prosecution, ensuring Caldwell paid for his role in the violent crime.
While Caldwell’s 9-year sentence offers a measure of closure for the victims of Tilak Jewelers, the investigation remains open for the remaining fugitives. This case serves as a stark reminder that federal authorities will relentlessly pursue those who cross state lines to commit violent crimes, no matter how long it takes.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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