OAKLAND — The final defendant connected to the 2023 armed takeover robbery of a San Ramon jewelry store has been sentenced to federal prison, closing a major chapter in a case that shocked the East Bay retail community.
Ryan Kentrell Montgomery, 37, received a two-year federal prison sentence for his role in the $1.1 million robbery of Heller Jewelers. Prosecutors acknowledged that while Montgomery was present during the heist, his involvement was considered less significant compared to other participants. As a result, he received a shorter sentence than his co-defendants.
Authorities estimate that approximately 11 individuals were involved in the March 17, 2023 robbery. However, only five suspects were ultimately charged. With Montgomery’s sentencing, all five defendants have now received prison terms.
Court filings indicate that Montgomery’s phone records placed him at the scene during the robbery. However, investigators determined that he did not assist in scouting the location beforehand nor did he participate in a key planning call that prosecutors described as central to organizing the crime.
His co-defendants — Sunia Mafileo Faavesi, John Ioane Tupou, Paul Christopher Tonga and Kyle Vehikite — were previously sentenced in 2024 to prison terms ranging from 36 to 42 months.
Arrests Followed Multi-Agency Raids
The defendants were arrested roughly five months after the robbery during coordinated raids across the Bay Area. During the operation, authorities uncovered additional suspected criminal activity. Investigators reported finding firearms, ammunition, and body armor at a residence in San Mateo County linked to one of the defendants. Suspected gang ties were also noted in court records connected to the broader investigation.
In a separate development related to the case, court documents revealed that one defendant had received assistance from a civilian employee connected to law enforcement in the South Bay. The individual allegedly checked on his warrant status and indicated that the favor would come at a price. The person was described as not being a sworn peace officer.
Store Targeted Again in 2025
The case has drawn renewed attention following another major robbery at the same San Ramon jewelry store two years later. In that 2025 incident, dozens of suspects reportedly stormed the store and stole an estimated $1.7 million in merchandise. Authorities have since charged 19 individuals in connection with that robbery.
Investigators allege that one juvenile suspect fired a handgun through a locked door during the group’s escape. Additionally, one of the suspects in the 2025 San Ramon robbery is also accused of participating in a similar smash-and-grab incident at Kumar Jewelers in Fremont, where merchandise valued at approximately $1.7 million was taken.
Ongoing Concerns Over Organized Retail Crime
The repeated targeting of high-end jewelry retailers has raised broader concerns among law enforcement and business owners about organized retail crime operations in the Bay Area. Officials have emphasized the coordinated nature of these crimes, which often involve multiple suspects, getaway vehicles, and rapid execution tactics designed to overwhelm store staff and security measures.
With the sentencing of the final defendant in the 2023 case, federal prosecutors have formally concluded that chapter of the investigation. However, ongoing prosecutions related to the more recent robberies suggest that authorities continue to confront large-scale organized theft networks operating throughout the region.
