Round Rock Man With Lavish Lifestyle Convicted In Jewelry Store Heists

ROUND ROCK, TX — A Round Rock man who boasted of his lavish lifestyle—posing with celebrities on red carpets, driving expensive cars—was convicted on Friday of financing his whirlwind activity through the sale of stolen diamonds, according to reports.

Marvin Lewis, 40, was found guilty on 25 of 27 counts in U.S. District Court, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The verdict ends a colorful trial during which Lewis represented himself in a trial that included his calling presiding judge Lee Yeakel as "crooked" and directing him to shut up on occasion, according to media coverage of the proceedings.

The trial had centered on allegations Lewis ordered co-defendant Brandon Grubbs to rob more than a dozen jewelry stores in Austin, Houston and Ohio throughout 2014-15. Grubbs told the court that Lewis directed him as to which stores to rob, providing him with guns and detailed instructions on what goods to steal, the Statesman reported.

The report noted that Lewis first got the attention of the IRS after depositing $200,000 into his bank account despite having no discernible means of income and never having filed an a tax return. "Unlike you, I didn't pay for this beautiful building," he told those at the court hearing at one point, as reported by the newspaper.

Yet even without a legitimate source of income, Lewis was able to purchase high-end cars manufactured by Bentley and Maserati and a couple of watches valued at $60,000, according to the report. Lewis boasted on his Instagram account of having met such celebrities as Madonna, Eddie Murphy, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, providing selfies as evidence of his brushes with fame.

The verdict effectively ends the jet-setting, and Lewis now faces a prison term ranging from 57 years incarceration to life behind bars when sentenced Sept. 13. He was convicted of counts to robbery, money laundering and unlawful use of a gun, but acquitted of two counts related to paying off a credit card, according to the report.

Related story: Round Rock Man Who Hung Out With Celebrities Charged With Jewelry Store Heists

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