Armed Robber Sentenced to 20 Years for Violent Robberies at Ross Stores

Albuquerque –

An Albuquerque man received a 20-year prison sentence for a series of violent armed robberies at multiple Ross Dress for Less stores in 2022.

There is no parole in the federal system.

Court records and trial evidence show that 46-year-old Jason Pete Roper carried out three armed robberies at Ross stores on August 14, August 15, and September 8, 2022. Each time, Roper approached the register with a small item, waited for the cashier to open the till, then brandished a firearm and demanded money from several registers. At trial, most of the victims, who were teenagers, described the fear and emotional distress they still experience, with some quitting their jobs and withdrawing from school due to the psychological effects. The total amount stolen across the three robberies was approximately $1,800.

At the time of these offenses, Roper was on federal probation for a previous armed bank robbery conviction.

Additional evidence revealed that Roper not only committed these robberies himself but also involved his 12-year-old nephew, Jeriah Salas, in his criminal activities. Surveillance footage, witness testimony, and a CrimeStoppers tip connected Roper to additional robberies committed by his nephew at a Ross store, a Walgreens, and an attempted robbery at Taco Bell.

Roper will face three years of supervised release after his prison term.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement on March 27, 2025.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon Stanford and Samuel Hurtado prosecuted the case.

Roper Leads Nephew Jeriah Salas into Life of Crime

Local authorities had previously stated Jason Roper is the uncle of Jeriah Salas and Levi Salas.

On January 29, 2025, a man defending his wife and himself fatally shot 14-year-old Alonzo Sanderson during an attempted robbery/carjacking in Albuquerque. Sanderson and a 15-year-old friend, Jeriah Salas, had approached a couple in their car and fired shots, injuring the wife. The husband returned fire, killing Sanderson. At the time, authorities arrested Jeriah Salas, Jocelyn Pino, 16, Elijah Gutierrez, 14, Jathan Gutierrez, 12, Vicente Pino, 17, Janiyah Pino, 15, and Levi Salas, 13, in connection with the incident.

On March 21, the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office announced that the 12 and 13-year-olds were released as they await physical evidence in this case.