Andres Tremols Tapanes, of Lehigh Acres, has been found guilty as charged of Robbery with a Firearm while Wearing a Hood, Mask, or other Device to Conceal Identity and Aggravated Battery on a Person 65 Years of Age or Older, for a case involving a home invasion robbery.
The jury returned the verdict following a three-day trial in Collier County. Assistant State Attorneys Laura Mason and James Stewart prosecuted the case.
The crime happened on November 21, 2020. Deputies with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, working Golden Gate Patrol, were dispatched to a residence around 7 p.m., in reference to a robbery in progress.
Video surveillance shows two subjects wearing masks and gloves, trying to gain entry at the front door, then running behind the residence. From that point, things happened very quickly. One victim was punched, forced onto the ground, and had zip ties placed on their wrists and ankles to prevent them from moving. Another victim was ordered to the ground at gunpoint. Money was then stolen from a safe in the home.
The suspects fled on foot, in the area of a nearby shopping plaza. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office formed a perimeter, using K-9 Officers and aviation units, to conduct a search. While neither suspect was located that night, a later search of the area led to the discovery of a glove that matched a glove worn by one of the suspects.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement did an analysis of the evidence and a CODIS Hit was received for a swab taken from inside of the glove, which led to the identity of Tapanes.
Sentencing is set for April 24, 2024.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office