Suspect In $1.6 Million Gold Flake Bucket Midtown Theft Arrested In Ecuador

Jen Chung

Published Jan 20, 2017

Modified Jan 20, 2017

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Jen Chung

Published Jan 20, 2017

Modified Jan 20, 2017

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

The career criminal suspected of grabbing a five-gallon bucket containing $1.6 million worth of gold flakes from an armored truck has been caught. Julio Nivelo was apprehended in Ecuador, according to the police.

Last September, Nivelo, who is also known as David Vargas, approached an armored truck parked outside of 48 West 48th Street around 4:30 p.m. One of the truck's employees was making a delivery while another was apparently looking for his phone in the cab when Nivelo allegedly made his move for the 86-pound pail.

Last year, NYPD Detective Martin Pastor of the Major Case Squad told NBC New York that Nivelo is "a career thief who's been arrested seven times and deported four times to his native Ecuador... Pastor says Nivelo fled to Orlando, Florida, before moving on to California, where he's believed to be hiding out in the Los Angeles area with the stolen riches."

The Daily News reports, "He headed to Florida, then California, before making his way to Ecuador, officials said. Federal Homeland Security Investigations agents helped capture him there Thursday, officials said."

Some of the money has been recovered.

Nivelo may be involved with other incidents—"he grabbed jewelry from a courier truck, camera equipment from a car, clothing and glasses from a Fed Ex truck, and tried but failed to make off with a box of Jimmy Choo designer shoes," according to the News' sources.

Tagged

armored truck

gold flake thief

Julio Nivelo