3 San Ramon Jewel Robbery Suspects Charged With Multiple Felonies: DA

SAN RAMON, CA — Three men are facing a slew of felony charges in relation to an armed smash and grab robbery that took place Monday at Heller Jewelers in San Ramon, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

Charges of 13 counts of second-degree robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime were announced against the following suspects:

• Michael Lamont Ray, Jr., 31, San Francisco
• Ira Raheem Austin, 19, San Francisco
• Jimmy Mack Ray, 27, Vallejo

Special enhancements were added due to the value of the items stolen, which prosecutors say exceeded one million dollars. Jimmy Ray will be arraigned Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez. The others will be arraigned at a future date set by the court.

According to prosecutors, the trio took part in a scheme to steal cars to use in the crime. They then forcibly entered Heller Jewelers, smashed display cases to steal valuable merchandise. The doors to the store locked due to a new security measure, but one of the suspects fired a gun at the windows to smash them open.

Patch is awaiting clarification on whether one of the above suspects is accused of firing the gun. Despite the violent nature of the robbery, authorities say there were no known injuries.

The suspects then fled the scene in stolen vehicles. San Ramon police followed, but said they terminated the chase because it became too dangerous. Officers from the Oakland Police Department apprehended the suspects as they were seen leaving a building in Oakland, according to prosecutors.

Four other suspects have been arrested, according to the San Ramon Police Department:

• Jahkeal McGolthin, 18, Oakland
• Deandre Demisse, 19, Oakland
• Jacques Samuel, 18, Oakland

Another 17-year-old was also arrested, police said. Roughly 25 masked robbers stormed the jeweler, meaning roughly 18 suspects remain at-large as of Friday.

“San Ramon detectives will tirelessly continue their investigation into the incident and ask anyone who may have witnessed the robbery to contact Detective Corporal Kevin Tjahjadi at 925-733-7316,” SRPD said in a news release.

“My Office will continue to work with San Ramon PD and other law enforcement partners to identify other perpetrators who participated in this brazen robbery and charge them accordingly,” Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement. “Our communities deserve safety from conduct like the audacious daylight robbery in San Ramon. Thanks to the excellent investigative work by the San Ramon Police Department, these defendants will face significant punishment for the offenses they committed.”

Heller Jewelers has been closed since the incident Monday afternoon, but said in a Facebook post that they plan to reopen Saturday.

“We would like to take a moment to thank you for the incredible outpouring of kindness our Heller Jewelers family has received this past week,” the store said. The store was also victim to a smash-and-grab robbery in March 2023.

On Thursday, a group rallied outside the store in support, and to advocate better security measures.

SEE ALSO:

• Community Rallies In Support Of San Ramon Jeweler, Set To Reopen After Violent Robbery
  
• 20 Masked Robbers Take Over East Bay Store, Firing Multiple Rounds: Police
  
• 7 Jewel Robbery Suspects Arrested, Roughly 18 Remain At-Large: Police