The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has added Cuban national Alberto Pérez Elías to its most wanted list for his alleged involvement in a daring robbery at Tio Jewelers in Cape Coral, Florida. Pérez Elías, along with three accomplices, is accused of stealing jewelry valued at over one million dollars.
According to official FBI records, on January 6, 2026, Pérez Elías and his associates accessed an adjacent vacant store, breached the wall into the jewelry shop, and held the store manager at gunpoint.
The thieves reportedly cracked open a safe, seizing thousands of pieces of jewelry worth more than a million dollars before fleeing to Miami. After an extensive investigation, three of the suspects were apprehended.
On June 24, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, located in Fort Myers, issued a federal arrest warrant for Pérez Elías. He faces charges of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, and carrying and using a firearm during a violent crime.
His alleged co-conspirators, Ivel Sánchez Rivera (52, Hialeah), Osmani Barrios Carrera (37, Hialeah), and Yunior López Delgado (42, Miami), have been detained, according to a statement from the Department of Justice, which formally charged all four individuals. Pérez Elías, aged 57 and a resident of Miami, remains at large.
If found guilty, the defendants could face up to 20 years in federal prison, in addition to a consecutive seven-year sentence for brandishing a firearm during the robbery.
FBI's Most Wanted: A Closer Look at Alberto Pérez Elías
The FBI describes Pérez Elías as a bald man with brown eyes, standing 1.68 meters tall and weighing approximately 68 kilograms. Born in Cuba, he has known connections in both Hialeah and Miami. His last known photograph dates back to 2018, and he is also known by the names Alberto Pérez Elías and Alberto Pérez.
The agency warns that he is considered armed and dangerous.
The case is being handled by the FBI's Tampa office and is listed under the agency's "additional violent crimes" section of its most wanted list. Anyone with information on Pérez Elías' whereabouts can provide tips anonymously at the FBI's official tip website or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Other Cuban residents in South Florida have also been featured on FBI lists for similar crimes. In 2018, the agency offered a reward for Pedro Santamaría, a Miami Cuban accused of stealing a truck loaded with gold bars, facing similar charges of conspiracy and firearm use during a violent crime.
This week, the Tampa FBI also announced its search for another Cuban suspect wanted for crimes against a minor in Florida.
Understanding the FBI's Search for Alberto Pérez Elías
Who is Alberto Pérez Elías?
Alberto Pérez Elías is a Cuban citizen wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in a million-dollar jewelry heist in Cape Coral, Florida. He is considered armed and dangerous.
What are the charges against Pérez Elías?
Pérez Elías faces charges of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, interference with commerce by robbery, and carrying and using a firearm during a violent crime.
What should you do if you have information about Pérez Elías?
If you have information regarding the whereabouts of Pérez Elías, you can report it anonymously at the FBI's official tip website or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.