Three men suspected of robbing a diamond courier of $500,000 worth of jewelry were arrested late last month. It was the second such robbery in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac since October.

In the January robbery, three masked men attacked the courier at around 6 p.m., as he was approaching his room at a SeaTac motel. They assaulted the victim, stole took the bag containing the jewelry and slashed one of the tires on his car before fleeing in another vehicle.

Two hours later a state trooper on patrol spotted the getaway vehicle at a gas station where the three men were arrested and taken to jail. They were expected to face robbery charges.

In October, two diamond couriers from Hong Kong were robbed of $400,000 worth of gemstones in SeaTac. At least three masked robbers used the luxury sedan they were driving on an Interstate 5 onramp cut off the vehicle driven by the couriers, causing the couriers to hit the sedan. The couriers became boxed in on the ramp and three men wearing masks and sunglasses got out of the sedan. One pointed a handgun at the couriers while another broke their windows and reached in to steal a backpack containing $400,000 worth of jewels.

A person commits robbery when he or she unlawfully takes personal property from someone by using threats or intimidation of force, violence, or fear of injury. Robbery differs from theft and burglary in that theft does not involve a one-on-one interaction between the robber and the victim that includes the use of force, intimidation and coercion; and burglary involves entering a building or residence with the intent to commit a theft or other felony.

A person is guilty of robbery in the first degree if, during the commission of a robbery or while fleeing the crime, the person:

• Is armed with a deadly weapon; or
• Displays what appears to be a firearm or other deadly weapon; or
• Inflicts bodily injury; or
• Commits a robbery within and against a bank or other financial institution.

Robbery in the first degree is a Class A felony punishable by up to life in prison, or a fine of up to $50,000, or both.

Robbery in the second degree is the act of robbing someone without the displaying a weapon or injuring the victim. Robbery in the second degree is a Class B felony, punishable by up to a decade in prison, or a fine of up to $20,000, or both.

Regardless of the circumstances, everyone charged with a criminal act deserves the best defense. If you have been arrested and face criminal charges, call the Seattle law office of Steve Karimi at (206) 621-8777 or contact him online.