Michael Ornelas, a jewel thief, is set to learn his fate on June 4, when he will be sentenced by Judge Daniel Merritt. Ornelas previously pleaded no contest to four burglary charges and a count of racketeering. His attorney, Eric Tippin, appeared before Judge Merritt on Thursday morning for a sentencing status hearing. Ornelas was not present but will be required to appear via Zoom for another sentencing status hearing on May 21.
According to Tippin, Ornelas is suffering from severe, unmanaged diabetes and is hoping for leniency. “We’re hoping the court takes into consideration the totality of factors, including Mr. Ornelas’ current health,” Tippin told the Hernando Sun. The case has experienced significant delays, with 444 court events recorded in Ornelas’ docket since his December 2019 arrest. Ornelas and two other men, Matthew Petrucelli and William Granims, are accused of stealing $16 million in valuables from 23 jewelry stores across Florida over the course of eight years.
The trio allegedly committed a string of high-profile burglaries, entering through walls of adjacent businesses, disabling alarms, monitoring police frequencies, drilling holes in safes, and targeting the most valuable items in the store. Before he was apprehended, Ornelas was actually contracted by Kay Jewelers to open safes when employees became locked out. The Hernando Sun reports that Ornelas and Granims were previously convicted. The two other men Ornelas allegedly worked with will also be sentenced on June 4.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
