SANTA ANA, California
A South Los Angeles man was arraigned Monday, charged in an eight-count federal grand jury indictment that alleges he and another defendant conducted a series of armed robberies at eight convenience stores across Southern California over a period of just over five months earlier this year.
The following defendants were both arrested fleeing from a robbery on June 13 and have been charged with eight counts of Hobbs Act robbery:
Jesus Soto-Parada, 26, was deported to El Salvador during the robbery spree but later returned to the United States, continued the robbery spree, and was found to be residing in South Los Angeles,
He is scheduled to begin his trial on Sept. 24.
“These defendants’ alleged violent crime spree has now earned them federal criminal charges carrying major potential prison time,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.
If convicted, Soto and Pavon face up to 20 years in federal prison for each Hobbs Act robbery count.
Daniel Pavon, 20, a Honduran national living in Gardena, is currently in state custody and awaiting transfer to federal custody to face charges.
According to court documents, Soto, Pavon, and co-conspirators allegedly entered
wearing surgical masks. One suspect would reportedly brandish a handgun at the clerk while stealing money, while the other served as a lookout.
According to the indictment filed on June 26, Soto, Pavon, and their co-conspirators, beginning on January 11, allegedly robbed convenience stores in Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Pomona, Newport Beach, Agoura Hills, and Gardena.
The group reportedly stole approximately $13,950 in cash and $7,415 in merchandise.
Following the Gardena robbery on June 13, law enforcement located the suspects and conducted a traffic stop, resulting in the arrest of Soto and Pavon.
During the search, officers reportedly discovered cash, a box of blue medical face masks, the tracking device, a black replica semi-automatic handgun, and two long-sleeved black hooded sweatshirts.
Shortly afterward, a clerk at the victimized Gardena store was brought to the scene and identified Soto and Pavon as the individuals who committed the robbery, noting they were wearing the hooded sweatshirts during the robbery.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Orange County Violent Crime Task Force (OCVCTF), which is comprised of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the ATF, the Brea Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the Fullerton Police Department, is investigating this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jena MacCabe of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Caitlin Campbell of the Santa Ana Branch Office are prosecuting this matter.