Detained "Lebrón" and "Tatuaje" for armed robbery in Villa González, Santiago
Two men were arrested for an aggravated theft that occurred on 22 September in Villa González, where they beat and restrained a victim to force them to open a safe.
Police arrest two men for armed assault on residence and business in Santiago
The National Police detained Luis Miguel Sánchez Lebrón, alias "Lebrón", and Justo Ramón Durán Jiménez, known as "Tatuaje" or "El Fuerte", linked to an aggravated robbery and armed assault registered on 22 September in Villa González, province of Santiago. According to infobae.com, police spokesman Diego Pesqueira confirmed that agents from the Central Investigation Directorate (DICRIM) made the arrests following an investigation coordinated with the Preventive Police and under the direction of the Public Ministry.
According to the preliminary report, those involved entered a residence and a commercial establishment, beat and restrained one of the victims, and threatened them with death to force them to open a safe. The robbers allegedly took cash, dollars, gold jewellery and documents.
Durán Jiménez was located during one of the raids carried out in Navarrete. In the operations, agents seized a 9 millimetre calibre pistol modified to .380 with its magazine and two cartridges, a safe, a DVR device, a Toyota RAV4 van and a motorcycle, among other items intended for expert analysis.
Third suspect sought; another man investigated for receiving stolen goods
The DICRIM also identified Luciano Mendoza Santos, alias "El Son" or "Papón", as a suspected co-perpetrator of the crime. The authorities are maintaining an active search for him.
A fourth man, Braulio Vélez, remains under investigation for his alleged involvement in the concealment and acquisition of goods that are believed to have been obtained during the robbery. The Police indicated that the file continues to develop in order to establish individual responsibilities and recover the stolen items.
The two detainees are to be presented before the Public Ministry, which will determine the legal classification and request the corresponding coercive measures.
Legal framework: sentences of up to 20 years under the new Penal Code
The case could fall under the provisions of the new Dominican Penal Code, established by Law 74-25 and amended in July 2026 by Law 44-26, in force since August of this year.
Article 224 defines theft as the taking of property belonging to another person and establishes a sentence of one to two years of minor imprisonment, plus a fine of three to six minimum salaries of the public sector. In cases of aggravated theft, article 225 sets sentences of five to ten years of major imprisonment and fines of ten to twenty minimum salaries when circumstances concur such as the use of vehicles, commission at night, the use of a mask or disguise, attack against a defenceless person or the theft of electronic devices.
The most severe scale, provided for in article 226, sets sentences of ten to twenty years of major imprisonment and fines of twenty to thirty minimum salaries when the crime is committed with violence, torture, threats or use of weapons, or when several people intervene as perpetrators or accomplices. The police investigation includes complaints of physical assault, immobilisation of the victim, death threats, joint action and the carrying of a firearm. The application of these aggravating factors is to be determined by the Public Ministry and the courts during proceedings.
Context: robberies show a 29.9% decrease so far this year
The National Police reported that robberies recorded a reduction of 29.9% between January and September, with 20,446 cases fewer than in the same period of 2025. In September alone, 4,214 robberies were recorded, according to the institutional balance.
That same month, the authorities executed 1,476 arrest warrants in general operations, although no breakdown was published that would allow clarification of how many specifically concerned aggravated robberies or armed assaults. As of 1 October, the institution reported 11,587 outstanding arrest warrants linked to robberies, a figure that does not necessarily correspond to an equal number of persons sought.
Source: Google News DO — Crime