Fast food robbery results in prison for Houston man

HOUSTON, TX -- A 26-year-old man has been sent to federal prison following his role in a series of robberies in the Houston area, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Marco Ruelas pleaded guilty Aug. 9, 2021.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes ordered Ruelas to serve 234 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard Ruelas apologize to the court and the victims of his robberies and accepted responsibility for his crimes.

On Dec. 10, 2019, law enforcement responded to a robbery at a McDonalds on Westheimer Road in Houston. Witnesses reported that Ruelas rushed into the restaurant and pointed a shotgun at workers and bystanders. He said “I want the money, all the big bills or I will shoot all of y’all.”

Shortly after, he took cash from the registers and fled in a maroon sedan. Witnesses said they heard Ruelas fire shots in the parking lot as he fled.

Ruelas had a tattoo over his right eye which was later used to identify him.

The investigation led to the connection of Ruelas to a previous robbery of a MetroPCS store that occurred Nov. 29, 2019, on Magnum Road in Houston. At that time, Ruelas produced a handgun and told an employee “give me everything and nothing is going to happen to you.” The employee told authorities Ruelas stole money and cell phones before running out of the store. Later, they described the tattoo over his eye.

Ruelas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Houston Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim McAlister prosecuted the case.