Eight people involved in flash-mob-style robberies in three counties last year received state prison sentences after pleading guilty to federal charges, authorities announced on Tuesday, July 30.
A ninth defendant was scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Los Angeles police Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton announced the sentences, from one to 10 years. Some of the defendants have prior strikes.
The sentences stem from a string of flash-mob robberies that shocked Southern California during summer 2023 , when dozens of robbers quickly ran into high-end retail stores, grabbed whatever items they could from shelves and then ran to awaiting vehicles.
To combat the issue, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Glendale Police Department and several other agencies worked with the California Highway Patrol to create the Organized Retail Crime Task Force and began making arrests .
Videos from the flash-mob robberies — most notably a Nordstrom store at a Topanga Canyon mall and the Yves Saint Laurent store in Glendale — quickly went viral.
“I think anyone who saw that footage can agree it was disturbing, shocking and unsettling,” Bonta said during a Tuesday press conference at LAPD’s headquarters in downtown. “It’s hard to watch, much less imagine what it would have been like if it were you with your children, or your loved ones or family members, who were innocently shopping during those moments when a flash mob occurred.”
In all, the nine defendants were deemed responsible for more than $1.7 million in stolen luxury goods during the series of flash mobs, Bonta’s office said.
During the investigations, authorities learned that many of the flash-mob robberies were organized through social media, with one person posting a “callout” to be at a certain place at a certain time, Bonta said. The stolen goods would then be divided among those involved and resold using social-media platforms.
“It was more diffuse and not centralized in terms of the resale aspect of the operation,” Bonta said.
All of those sentenced were connected to at least one of the flash-mob robberies at the Nordstrom at the Topanga Canyon mall , the Yves Saint Laurent store in Glendale , the Louis Vuitton store in Newport Beach and the Burberry Outlet in Riverside.
The sentences:
Jordan Harris got more than 10 years in state prison for carjacking and two counts of grand theft in connection with the Glendale and Topanga Canyon robberies
Kip Henry received more than seven years for one count of robbery and one count of grand theft in connection with the Topanga Canyon and Newport Beach robberies
Devon Perry got more than five years for two counts of grand theft in connection with the Riverside and Topanga Canyon robberies
Ziona Famoso was sentenced to more than four years for one count of robbery and two counts of grand theft in connection with the Topanga Canyon and Newport Beach robberies
Alana Hart got four years for assault and grand theft in connection with the Riverside robbery
Travelle Hamblet got four years for robbery at Topanga Canyon
Jason Smith was sentenced to three years for carjacking; it was unclear which robbery he was tied to
Briana Jimenez got one year in custody and felony probation for robbery in Glendale
Ivan Ramirez was scheduled to be sentenced at a later date for robbery in Glendale
The defendants’ ages and cities of residence were not disclosed by the Attorney General’s Office.
Authorities will continue to pursue any suspects of flash-mob-style robberies.
“We’re coordinating effectively and more arrests are coming,” Deputy Chief Hamilton said. “More investigations are continuing, more suspects will be arrested and more people will go to prison. We will bring the full force of the law down on anyone involved in these incidents.
“We’re going to make it safe for you to go out in the city of Los Angeles and this region so you can shop,” he continued.
Bonta said the frequency of flash-mob crimes has decreased, thanks to the quick work of the LAPD and other police agencies.
“Yes, this started as a viral sensation,” Bonta said. “Because of important police work that was done rapidly to hold these people accountable, you’re seeing the lowering of the number of incidents occurring.”
Originally Published: July 31, 2024 at 4:57 a.m.
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