One of two South American nationals in connection with the armed robbery of a million-dollar emerald-covered clock from a tourist sitting on the patio of a restaurant at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel pleaded guilty to federal charges on Monday.
According to the U.S. Lawyer’s Office, Sepulveda Salazar, 22, of Columbia, sued in downtown Los Angeles for one count of intervention in commercial through robbery known as a federal Hobbs law crime.
The verdict was scheduled for July 14th.
Venezuelan co-defendant Jesus Eduardo Padron Rojas, 19, is currently facing trial next month.
It is said that Sepulveda and his co-defendants owned a handgun registered with Christopher Dorner, a notorious former LAPD officer who killed four people 12 years ago before his death at the end of a standoff with police.
The suspicious robbery is believed to be part of a “crime tourism” group consisting of foreigners traveling to the United States to engage in high-value theft.
The robbery on the afternoon of August 7, 2024 targeted a watch worn by British tourists sitting with their wife and two daughters on the hotel cafe patio. Prosecutors said one of the suspects approached and pointed out.
He pulled back the victim’s black semi-automatic handgun and the handgun slide back, and took charge of the round.
The first suspect detained the victim at muzzle, but the second suspect approached and stolen the victim’s wrist, a Silver Patek Philippe Watch, which is estimated to be worth $1 million, prosecutors said.
The watch was later recovered in Miami following an investigation into another watch theft that took place in Florida several months ago.
According to a paper filed in Los Angeles federal court, both suspects left the scene, and eventually Sepulveda served as the escape driver.
Law enforcement has executed a search warrant at Airbnb, an expo park where South Americans were reportedly staying. During the search, officers spotted a Glock handgun registered with the Dorner. Later that day,
Authorities have implemented traffic stops on the Chevrolet equinox and identified Sepulveda and Padron in the vehicle, according to court documents.
The US Lawyer’s Office believes Equinox was involved in a previous armed robbery in the 400 block of Dorney Road, Beverly Hills on August 5, 2024, during which time a $30,000 Rolex was stolen.
It remains unclear how the suspect possessed the weapons registered with the Dorner. His murder, along with the former LAPD captain and her fiance’s daughter, claimed the lives of two police officers.
The murder prompted a huge manhunt that ultimately led to Big Bear. There, authorities engaged in an expansion gun fight with Dorner.
Donner was found dead in a burnt-out hut.
It was unclear whether the gun registered with the Dorner was the one used in the Beverly Hills robbery, but authorities said no other weapons had been recovered.
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