{"id":61130,"date":"2026-07-08T17:06:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T00:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61130"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:06:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T00:06:31","slug":"man-sentenced-to-26%c2%bd-years-in-prison-for-armed-robbery-spree-that-ended-in-fatal-police-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61130","title":{"rendered":"Man Sentenced to 26\u00bd Years in Prison for Armed Robbery Spree That Ended in Fatal Police Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\""GoonLOS ANGELES<\/strong> \u2014 A Long Beach<\/strong> man was sentenced Thursday to 318 months (26\u00bd years)<\/strong> in federal prison for a 2023 armed robbery spree<\/strong> across Los Angeles County that ended in a high-speed police pursuit<\/strong>, the death of an innocent motorist, and injuries to another driver.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kaelenn Sinaukoko Maea, 29<\/strong>, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald<\/strong>. The court will determine restitution<\/strong> at a later date.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maea pleaded guilty in April 2025<\/strong> to:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act)<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Hobbs Act robbery<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Possessing, using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a short-barreled rifle during and in relation to a crime of violence<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • \u2705 Defendant: Kaelenn Sinaukoko Maea, 29, of Long Beach<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Sentence: 318 months (26\u00bd years) in federal prison<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Judge: U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Pleaded guilty: April 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Charges included Hobbs Act robbery<\/strong>, robbery conspiracy<\/strong>, and firearms offense<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Three armed robberies committed in September 2023<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Businesses targeted in Downey, Compton, and South El Monte<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Approximately $5,050<\/strong> stolen<\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Defendant discharged a short-barreled rifle<\/strong> during one robbery<\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 High-speed pursuit occurred Oct. 9, 2023<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Pursuit ended with the death of an innocent motorist<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Another civilian was injured during the chase<\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Defendant arrested after hiding beneath a house<\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Three co-defendants have pleaded guilty<\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u2705 Case investigated by the FBI<\/strong> and local law enforcement agencies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \"\"According to court documents, Maea and his accomplices committed three armed robberies<\/strong> during a one-week period in September 2023<\/strong>, targeting:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • A liquor store in Downey<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
      • A gas station in Compton<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
      • A convenience store in South El Monte<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        The robberies yielded approximately $5,050<\/strong> in stolen cash.<\/span><\/p>\n

        During the Downey robbery, Maea fired a short-barreled rifle<\/strong> inside the business. <\/span><\/p>\n

        At the Compton gas station, prosecutors said he brandished the rifle<\/strong>, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

        On Oct. 9, 2023<\/strong>, Maea drove a stolen Range Rover<\/strong> 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<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

        Prosecutors said he continued fleeing after the collision, striking additional vehicles and injuring another civilian<\/strong> before abandoning the SUV, fleeing on foot, and hiding beneath a house until officers arrested him.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Co-defendants<\/span><\/h3>\n

        Three co-defendants also pleaded guilty in the case:<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Isaiah Villasana, 27, of Carson<\/strong>, is serving a 10-year federal prison sentence<\/strong> after pleading guilty to a firearms offense for holding a victim at gunpoint during the Downey robbery.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Mathew Salanoa, 32, of Placentia<\/strong>, is serving a 49-month federal prison sentence<\/strong> after pleading guilty to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy for his role in the Compton robbery.<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Salagi Iakopo, 26, of Compton<\/strong>, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 1.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

          <\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          LOS ANGELES \u2014 A Long Beach man was sentenced Thursday to 318 months (26\u00bd years) in federal prison for a 2023 armed robbery spree across Los Angeles County that ended in a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nMan Sentenced to 26\u00bd Years in Prison for Armed Robbery Spree That Ended in Fatal Police Crash<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A Long Beach man was sentenced to 26\u00bd years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a series of armed robberies across Los Angeles County that ended in a fatal high-speed police pursuit and the death of an innocent motorist.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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