WATERLOO – A former professional boxer at the heart of a fatal 2020 armored truck robbery and a spree of business fires and home burglaries said drugs were behind the crimes.
Kevin Josue Cruz Soliveras, 30, apologized to the court and those he harmed Friday as he was sentenced to up to six decades in prison.
“I let drugs numb by senses and take control of my life and manipulate my morals taught to me growing up in a good family. My actions have brought them much shame. I am remorseful and embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I don’t know what I was thinking; in fact I can’t say that I was thinking,” Cruz said. “I stand here today to say I regret every single thing I’ve done. I am truly sorry.”

Kevin Josue Cruz Soliveras during a sentencing hearing on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021.
On Friday, Judge Andrea Dryer sentenced Cruz under a plea agreement to a string of prison stints adding up to 60 years behind bars with at least 20 years before he is eligible for parole.
Assistant County Attorney Brad Walz said the sentence was warranted because of the number of crimes and the extent of the damage.
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“The defendant did cause damage to a great deal of homes and businesses, obviously the arsons to the Wishbone restaurant and the Maple Lanes bowling alley were significant. Both had to be fully done, Wishbone never reopened. Obviously, the armored car robbery … caused the loss of like of one of the defendant’s co-conspirators and placed the guards at great danger,” Walz said.
Charges of trafficking stolen firearms were dismissed as state authorities anticipate a federal indictment in that matter.
Authorities said Cruz and others were involved in a string of home and business burglaries. The crimes eventually escalated to a break-in and arson at Maple Lanes Bowling Center — where they overpowered a night maintenance worker and left him in the burning building — and the fiery destruction of The Wishbone restaurant, where a firefighter partially fell through the floor and was momentarily trapped.
The spree came to an end in hail of gunfire March 11, 2020, when Cruz and others pulled up to a Rochester armored car outside a bank in an attempted robbery. Alleged robber Bryce Altman Miller, 37, who was wielding two pistols, was shot and killed by guards.

Crime scene tape surrounds the drive-through area of U.S. Bank on Kimball Avenue in Waterloo. An armored car with its back doors open can be seen in the background.
Cruz, who was the initial getaway driver, and Rogelio Gonzalez, who jumped out with Miller, suffered minor gunshot wounds and fled the scene before they were captured. Justina Lynn Davis, 29, who was waiting in a second getaway car, was also arrested.
None of the victims spoke during Friday’s sentencing but some had submitted written statements to the court, Walz said.

Justina Lynn Davis:
Authorities want alleged armored truck heist getaway driver back in jail pending trial
Davis earlier pleaded to a reduced charge of second-degree robbery and in August was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
The last holdout of the armored car robbery crew, Gonzalez, had been set to begin trial later this month. But on Friday he also pleaded guilty and requested immediate sentencing.
“I want to apologize for my mistakes and I take full responsibility,” Gonzalez said.

Rogelio Gonzalez waves to family members in the jail courtroom following sentencing on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021.
He entered a plea to a lesser charge of second-degree robbery as a habitual offender. Because of prior felony convictions for possession of meth with intent to deliver in 2001 and 2007, his sentence was enhanced to 15 years in prison with 10 years and six months before parole eligibility.
Gonzalez’s sentence will run concurrent with a parole violation for the most recent drug charge.
Armored car robbery March 11, 2020
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Waterloo police are investigating an attempted robbery and shooting outside U.S. Bank in Kimball Avenue on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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Waterloo police are investigating an attempted robbery and shooting outside U.S. Bank in Kimball Avenue on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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A stray bullet struck a van that had pulled up to the drive-up ATM, missing the driver and a child inside during an armored car robbery and shooting outside U.S. Bank on Kimball Avenue on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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Two handguns rest on the pavement following an armored car robbery and shooting outside U.S. Bank on Kimball Avenue on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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A stray bullet struck a van, missing the driver and a child inside, during an armored car robbery outside U.S. Bank on Kimball Avenue.
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Waterloo police detained two people at the Kwik Star on Cedar Bend around 1 p.m. Wednesday.
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Crime scene tape surrounds the drive-through area of U.S. Bank on Kimball Avenue in Waterloo. An armored car with its back doors open can be seen in the background.
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Waterloo police on the scene of a shooting at U.S. Bank on Kimball Avenue in Waterloo.
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A vehicle at the drive-up ATM at U.S. Bank on Kimball Ave. was hit with gunfire Wednesday morning.
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Police cordon off U.S. Bank in Kimball Avenue following an armored car robbery and shooting on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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An armored car stands open following an attempted robbery and shooting outside U.S. Bank in Kimball Avenue following an armored car robbery and shooting on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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An armored car stands open following an attempted robbery and shooting outside U.S. Bank in Kimball Avenue following an armored car robbery and shooting on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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Waterloo police are investigating an attempted robbery and shooting outside U.S. Bank in Kimball Avenue on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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Waterloo police are investigating an attempted robbery and shooting outside U.S. Bank in Kimball Avenue on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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Police detain Rogelio Gonzalez during a stop at the Kwik Star on Cedar Bend Street on Wednesday.
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Police detain Rogelio Gonzalez during a stop at the Kwik Star on Cedar Bend Street in connection with the armored car robbery at U.S. Bank on March 11, 2020.
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Black Hawk County sheriff’s deputies and LaPorte City police guard Bryce Miller's last known address in rural LaPorte City during the execution of a search warrant on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
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Black Hawk County sheriff’s deputies and LaPorte City police guard Bryce Miller's last known address in rural LaPorte City during the execution of a search warrant on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
Photos: Maple Lanes gutted by fire in 2020
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Waterloo firefighters on the scene of a fire at Maple Lanes in Waterloo on Tuesday afternoon.
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Damage at Maple Lanes in Waterloo caused by a fire early Tuesday.
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This was the scene after the fire was put out at Maples Lanes bowling center, 2608 University Ave., Waterloo, about 7 a.m. Tuesday.
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Fire damaged Maple Lanes bowling center, 2608 University Ave., Waterloo, early Tuesday. The cause is under investigation.
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Fire damage can be seen in the front of Maples Lanes bowling center, 2608 University Ave., Waterloo, Tuesday.
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Waterloo Fire officials were on the scene of a big fire at Maple Lanes bowling Center, 2608 University Ave., early Tuesday.
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Smoke can be seen coming from the Maple Lanes bowling center on University Avenue in Waterloo after it caught fire early Tuesday in Waterloo.
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Maple Lanes bowling Center on University Avenue in Waterloo was on fire early Tuesday.
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Maple Lanes bowling center on University Avenue in Waterloo was damaged in an overnight fire early Tuesday.
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Fire heavily damaged Maple Lanes bowling center, 2608 University Ave., Waterloo, early Tuesday.
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Maple Lanes bowling center on University Avenue in Waterloo was damaged in an overnight fire early Feb. 4.
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Maple Lanes bowling in Waterloo was damaged in an overnight fire.
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Maple Lanes bowling center on University Avenue in Waterloo was damaged in an overnight fire early Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.
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Maple Lanes bowling center on University Avenue in Waterloo was damaged in an overnight fire early Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.
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Maple Lanes bowling center on University Avenue in Waterloo was damaged in an overnight fire early Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.