Karl Acosta is the mastermind of the failed armed robbery of a Waikele jewelry store earlier this month, said Patricia Kickland, deputy city prosecutor.

“He chose the location, instructed the others what to do, how to burn the (getaway) car and where to sell the stolen jewelry,” Kickland said today.

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment today charging Acosta, 46, with being an accomplice to first-degree robbery. He is free after posting $50,000 bail. Police said Acosta drove the getaway car.

The indictment also charges Trey Akana-Pulido, 21, with first-degree robbery, second-degree arson, carrying a firearm without a license and being a felon in possession of a prohibited firearm in the April 9 attempted robbery of Zales Outlet. 

Akana-Pulido is on probation in two separate cases for auto theft, assaulting a law enforcement officer, burglary and escape. He was also free on $75,000 bail for a burglary and unauthorized entry into a vehicle in case that was set for trial this week. He remains in custody unable to post $150,000 bail.

Police said Akana-Pulido was one of two masked men who tried to steal merchandise from Zales Outlet during store hours with two employees on duty. They said the other masked man was Mark Ahnee, 28, who died in a shootout with police April 14.

Akana-Pulido wielded a sawed-off shotgun in the Zales robbery attempt, police said, which the store’s security camera captured on video. They said Akana-Pulido later burned the getaway car.

Police also arrested a 19-year-old woman in connection with the case but released her without charges. They said she was in the getaway car during the robbery attempt.