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Four men were arrested in connection with a series of armed carjacking in Los Angeles County during a three-week crime spree, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
A group of men ages 19 to 23 carried out several carjackings that resulted in the theft of five vehicles and two televisions, federal officials said in a press release. The alleged crimes took place from Nov. 15 to Dec. 9 of last year when the suspects stole vehicles from the victims at gunpoint in Downey, Pico Rivera, Norwalk and Whittier.
Two of the men additionally stole two large-screen TVs from a Walmart in South Gate and threatened an employee, according to the DOJ.
The defendants were identified as:
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- Michael Anthony Fisher, 23, a.k.a. “Ghost,” of Bell;
- Sergio Macias, 22, a.k.a. “Checho,” of South Los Angeles;
- Andres Silva Cerrillos, 19, a.k.a. “Ruler,” of Buena Park; and
- Jesse Gutierrez, 19, a.k.a. “Lotto,” of Los Angeles.
“Violent gun crime tears at the fabric of our community and leaves victims with lasting trauma,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “These arrests and this indictment highlight my office’s determination to use our powerful federal laws to punish those who callously risk the lives of others.”
The suspects face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted.
