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Jurors in the 364th District Court on Wednesday handed a 45-year prison sentence to a 29-year-old man they believed was one of three people who robbed the Picantes Restaurant more than four years ago.
Jurors deliberated for about 2 hours and 15 minutes before returning with the 45-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine against Phillip Velazquez for his role in the Jan. 27, 2017 armed robbery at Picantes in the 3800 block of 34th Street.
Velazquez is the third defendant to be convicted in connection with the robbery. His brother, Joseph Gonzalez, was convicted by a jury in 2019 and was sentenced by 364th District Judge William Eichman to 60 years in prison.
Third defendant in 2017 Picantes Restaurant robbery found guilty
A 29-year-old man faces up to life in prison after he was convicted by a jury for his role in the armed robbery of a Central Lubbock restaurant four years ago.
Jurors in the 364th District Court deliberated for two and 1/2 hours before returning with their verdict finding 29-year-old Phillip Velazquez guilty as charged of aggravated robbery for his role in the Jan. 27, 2017, armed robbery at Picantes restaurant in the 3800 block of 34th Street.
Velazquez is the final defendant to be convicted in the robbery. His brother, Joseph Gonzalez, was sentenced in 2019 to 60 years in prison for his role in the robbery. Damian Villarreal, who testified against Gonzalez, pleaded guilty in September in exchange for a 30-year prison sentence.
Deputies in the 364th District Courtroom rushed to the witness stand Thursday morning to remove Joseph Gonzalez Jr. from the court during an outburst in which he called the members of the court crooked.
Gonzalez, 39, was one of two co-defendants serving decades long prison sentences for their roles in a 2017 armed robbery who were held in contempt of court after refusing to answer questions during a third defendant s trial.
Gonzalez and Damian Villarreal, 26, were called to testify during the fourth day of Phillip Velazquez s aggravated robbery trial. He faces five years to life in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors believe Velazquez, Gonzalez and Villarreal were the three men who robbed at gunpoint seven people on Jan. 27, 2017, at the the Picantes Restaurant in the 3800 block of 34th Street.
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