Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty To Role In Lee Michaels Jewelry Store Heist

In San Antonio, 45-year-old Johnny Kirk of Oklahoma City, OK, admitted to his role in the March 2010 robbery of the Lee Michaels Jewelry Store announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent In Charge Armando Fernandez, San Antonio Division and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. 

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Pamela Mathy this morning, Kirk pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the interference with commerce by threats and violence.  Kirk remains in federal custody pending sentencing which is scheduled for 9:30am on March 3, 2014, before Senior United States District Judge David Ezra.

By pleading guilty, Kirk admitted that on March 24, 2010, he robbed the Lee Michaels Jewelry Store located in North Star Mall in San Antonio in which an estimated $2.3 million worth of merchandise was stolen.

On October 7, 2013, 47-year-old co-defendant Marvin Steel of Oklahoma City was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,174,134 restitution after pleading guilty to one count each of aiding and abetting the transportation of stolen goods, aiding and abetting the interference with commerce by threats and violence, and aiding and abetting the use and carrying of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Several months following the robbery, the investigation turned to Oklahoma when a Rolex watch stolen during the heist was sold. Authorities subsequently executed several search warrants in Oklahoma, including a search warrant at Marvin Steele’s residence and a search warrant at the residence of Marvin Steele’s brother.  Agents recovered Rolex watches and various pieces of jewelry, valued at approximately $800,000, stolen from Lee Michaels Jewelry Store in San Antonio as well as a blue laundry bag identical to those used during the robbery.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI/SAPD Safe Streets Task Force along with the Oklahoma FBI and the SAPD Robbery Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Tom Moore and Michael Hardy are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.