Background: The Life Time Fitness location in Boca Raton, Fla. where Alberto Iturrey allegedly kidnapped his former business partner (Google Maps). Inset: Alberto Iturrey (Boca Raton Sheriff”s Office).
A Florida man who allegedly assaulted, robbed and kidnapped his former business partner reportedly threatened that there would be “consequences” after their partnership dissolved.
Alberto Iturrey, 39, is behind bars in Palm Beach County after police charged him with six felonies including armed kidnapping, robbery with a firearm, and aggravated battery. His alleged victim, 39-year-old Jeremy Marcus, is a childhood friend and former business partner who told police that Iturrey allegedly ambushed him in his car outside a Life Time gym location in Boca Raton on June 9.
According to a probable cause statement reviewed by Law&Crime, Marcus told police that Iturrey tased him and robbed him — after reportedly telling him, “You cannot afford to not pay me.”
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The probable cause statement described the fallout between Iturrey and Marcus, who told police that the two men were “longtime high school friend[s]” and had been conducting business deals together for several years. Together, the pair ran businesses involving pawning, firearms, and real estate. But Marcus told police that he noticed Iturrey was “not being transparent with his side of the real estate business” and wanted to end their partnership.
Marcus told police that after a $140,000 business deal in late 2024, he told Iturrey that the amount was about what they owed Marcus’ mother, so they could end their business partnership and basically call it even. He described Iturrey as “extremely upset” about the plan.
After the partnership dissolved, the statement said that Iturrey continued to run himself further into debt, maxing out credit cards and taking out loans he could not repay. One day in April, Iturrey showed up at Marcus’ workplace “jittery” and “possibly” high on drugs. At some point, Iturrey started “screaming” and Marcus forced him to leave.
This incident, according to the statement, seemed to be the turning point for Iturrey, who then reportedly began leaving the other man threatening voice messages on WhatsApp. In those messages to Marcus, Iturrey reportedly said, “You cannot afford not to pay me. You can’t afford it.”
The voice messages reportedly became increasingly threatening. Iturrey also told Marcus, “Your mom’s in the middle of it, so think clearly before you don’t pay me. You have ’til Monday to pay me what we agreed on.”
In another disturbing message, Iturrey said, “Whatever happens from there is consequences of your actions and your decisions, because I would not do this to you.”
On the morning of June 9, Marcus went to the Life Time location to work out. While walking back to his car after he was finished, he told police that he felt “what appeared to be two taser prongs going into his back.” He told police that he estimated the taser attack to have lasted about a minute, and when he was able to look up, he allegedly saw Iturrey standing over him. Iturrey then allegedly switched out his taser for a gun.
According to the statement, Iturrey allegedly forced Marcus into the back seat of Iturrey’s truck, where Marcus was told to put a pair of handcuffs on himself. Marcus tried asking Iturrey what he was doing and told police that his ex-business partner “looked like he wanted to kill him.”
While Iturrey allegedly held his friend captive, he forced Marcus to have his mother wire $50,000 to Iturrey, telling her it was “time sensitive” and that he would explain the circumstances later. Marcus also tried to call 911 while he was handcuffed, but was unable to complete the call after Iturrey took his phone away.
But the bank was not open, so the two men drove around for a while and went to Starbucks. Eventually, they made it back to Marcus’ home, where Iturrey allegedly robbed him of a Rolex watch, $30,000 in cash and several firearms.
Iturrey then let Marcus take a shower and patch up a laceration on his head before dropping him back at the Life Time gym.
Marcus waited a day to call police after trying to view surveillance video from the gym, but being denied access to the footage.
During their investigation into Marcus’ claims, police were able to view the footage, which showed Iturrey’s alleged taser attack as well as his vehicle. After compiling more evidence — including the Starbucks receipt and the aborted 911 call — police obtained a warrant and arrested Iturrey on June 19.
Iturrey was charged with armed kidnapping, armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery, grand theft larceny of less than $5,000 for the firearms, grand theft larceny of more than $20,000 but less than $100,000, and tampering with a witness. He is being held without bail. His next court date is scheduled for July 21.
