Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.

March 03, 2008

MASTERMIND OF $314,000 SALINAS ROBBERY SENTENCED

SAN JOSE – United States Attorney Joseph Russoniello announced that Jorge Lopez, 37, of Salinas, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and 3 years supervised release by United States District Judge Jeremy Fogel in San Jose for robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act and firearms charges. This conviction is the result of an extensive investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, and the FBI.

When he pleaded guilty on October 31, 2007, Mr. Lopez admitted to the following:

On April 2, 2004, at around 12:38 p.m. Ms. Young Kim, the owner/operator of The Corner Market, a combination convenience store, check cashing, and wire transmitter business in Salinas, California, cashed a $314,125.00 check at the Community Bank of Salinas (“the bank”). Those funds were intended to be used in the operation of the Corner Market, a business engaged in interstate commerce. Shortly after making the withdrawal, as she approached The Corner Market, Ms. Kim was assaulted and robbed on the street.

As part of his guilty plea, Lopez admitted that he had received inside information concerning the large withdrawal Ms. Kim was going to be making on April 2nd. That information was provided by Lopez’s then-girlfriend, Christina Flores, who at the time was also the bank’s Customer Service Manager. On the morning of the robbery, Lopez attended a planning meeting with Jose Campos, Ramon Romero, and others. Campos, who, in addition to others, was assigned the role of lookout, was stationed inside the Corner Market. Romero was assigned to rob Ms. Kim, while Lopez was stationed nearby in the getaway vehicle. Romero was arrested later that day, while Lopez escaped with the money. (In 2004, Romero was charged in state court and entered into a plea bargain by which he pleaded no contest in exchange for a sentence of two years imprisonment.)

After the robbery, Lopez met with Campos, Flores, and the others and distributed hundred dollar bills as payment. He also used a portion of his share of the proceeds to buy, among other things, a pleasure boat.

An extensive federal investigation resulted in the April 6, 2006 indictment of Lopez, Flores and Campos.

Ms. Flores pleaded guilty on February 26, 2007. On June 7, 2007, she was sentenced to 24 months incarceration and ordered to serve a two-year term of supervised release following her release from prison and to pay $314,000 in restitution to the victim.

Mr. Campos pleaded guilty on July 23, 2007. On April 10, 2007 he was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment and ordered to serve three years’ supervised release and to pay $314,000 in restitution as well.

Thomas M. O’Connell is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case.

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CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

JOSEPH SHEMARIA

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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.