Suspected getaway driver arrested after jewelry store robbery in Cape Coral

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

An arrest has been made in connection with a Cape Coral jewelry store robbery that happened on Tuesday.

The incident happened at Tio Jewelers, located at 110 NE 2nd Place on Pine Island Road, and two armed individuals entered the store through the wall of a vacant business while the jewelry store was closed.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida, the manager was restrained by the robbers when they arrived, and the suspects forced the safe to be opened.

The suspects then took a large amount of jewelry and two firearms from the store before leaving in a getaway vehicle driven by a third person, identified as Ivel Sanchez Rivera, investigators said.

According to the news release, Cape Coral police were able to identify that Sanchez Rivera's vehicle was involved in the robbery. Sanchez Rivera reportedly drove the car near the jewelry store the night before and immediately returned to Miami after the robbery.

A search warrant was executed at his residence. Two firearms were recovered, including a firearm that was taken from the manager during the robbery, investigators said.

Sanchez Rivera, a 52-year-old man out of Hialeah, is facing charges of conspiracy and interference with commerce by robbery and use and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Sanchez Rivera faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy offense and a consecutive seven years in federal prison for the firearm offense, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Gulf Coast News is working to find out more about the search for the other two suspects in this incident.

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