LOS ANGELES — A Long Beach man was sentenced Thursday to 318 months (26½ years) in federal prison for a 2023 armed robbery spree across Los Angeles County that ended in a high-speed police pursuit, the death of an innocent motorist, and injuries to another driver.
Kaelenn Sinaukoko Maea, 29, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. The court will determine restitution at a later date.
Maea pleaded guilty in April 2025 to:
- Conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act)
- Hobbs Act robbery
- Possessing, using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a short-barreled rifle during and in relation to a crime of violence
- ✅ Defendant: Kaelenn Sinaukoko Maea, 29, of Long Beach
- ✅ Sentence: 318 months (26½ years) in federal prison
- ✅ Judge: U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald
- ✅ Pleaded guilty: April 2025
- ✅ Charges included Hobbs Act robbery, robbery conspiracy, and firearms offense
- ✅ Three armed robberies committed in September 2023
- ✅ Businesses targeted in Downey, Compton, and South El Monte
- ✅ Approximately $5,050 stolen
- ✅ Defendant discharged a short-barreled rifle during one robbery
- ✅ High-speed pursuit occurred Oct. 9, 2023
- ✅ Pursuit ended with the death of an innocent motorist
- ✅ Another civilian was injured during the chase
- ✅ Defendant arrested after hiding beneath a house
- ✅ Three co-defendants have pleaded guilty
- ✅ Case investigated by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies
According to court documents, Maea and his accomplices committed three armed robberies during a one-week period in September 2023, targeting:
- A liquor store in Downey
- A gas station in Compton
- A convenience store in South El Monte
The robberies yielded approximately $5,050 in stolen cash.
During the Downey robbery, Maea fired a short-barreled rifle inside the business.
At the Compton gas station, prosecutors said he brandished the rifle, pointed it at an employee, and blocked the doorway to prevent customers and employees from leaving. He also brandished the weapon during the South El Monte robbery.
On Oct. 9, 2023, Maea drove a stolen Range Rover used in two of the robberies and fled from law enforcement at high speed. During the pursuit, he crashed into another vehicle, killing an innocent motorist.
Prosecutors said he continued fleeing after the collision, striking additional vehicles and injuring another civilian before abandoning the SUV, fleeing on foot, and hiding beneath a house until officers arrested him.
Co-defendants
Three co-defendants also pleaded guilty in the case:
- Isaiah Villasana, 27, of Carson, is serving a 10-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to a firearms offense for holding a victim at gunpoint during the Downey robbery.
- Mathew Salanoa, 32, of Placentia, is serving a 49-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy for his role in the Compton robbery.
- Salagi Iakopo, 26, of Compton, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 1.