Tyler Robbery Suspect Claims Cartel Coerced Him into Armed Gas Station Heist

TYLER, Texas — A suspect accused of carrying out an armed robbery at a Tyler gas station has offered an extraordinary defense, claiming he was acting under duress from a drug cartel.

According to recently obtained court documents, the suspect told investigators that members of a cartel forced him to commit the robbery at gunpoint. He claimed that he and his family were threatened with physical harm if he did not comply with their demands to target the convenience store.

Law enforcement officials are investigating the validity of these claims. While duress can sometimes be considered in legal proceedings, prosecutors are moving forward with charges of aggravated robbery. The suspect remains in custody as detectives work to verify any potential connections to organized crime or if the cartel claim is an attempt to evade full legal responsibility for the armed heist.