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Two Southgate men scouted the victims at a Los Angeles County casino and found the winners who were later ambushed in more than dozens of highway robberies, according to Friday’s charges.
Juan Gabriel Gonzalez, 22, and Derek Nathan Lopez, 21, chased the victims’ vehicles, ambushed them, pulled guns, smashed car windows, and demanded money and tips.
In 2023, Lopez, Gonzalez and other co-conspirators allegedly tried to steal and take people leaving the casino at least 15 times, including three per night. Two Southgate men stole at least $274,600, casino chips and other property, according to the indictment.
According to La Lopez’s US Law Office, both men are accused of being charged with conspiracy to one count of robbery (Hobbs Act), commercial transactions (Hobbs Act) (Hobbs Act) and multiple counts using firearms.
Gonzalez will make his first appearance in court on Friday. Lopez is in state custody and is expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks. Gonzalez’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is unknown if Lopez has an attorney.
From May until December 2023, the man is said to have targeted gamblers at Park West Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens. Hustler casino in Gardena. Commerce Casino & Hotel. Hawaiian Garden Garden Casino.
According to the 10 count indictment, Lopez, Gonzalez and other conspirators entered the casino using driver’s licenses in the names of others and targeted Asian victims who apparently had won or won cash with numerous chips.
Photos from surveillance cameras inside the Commerce Casino & Hotel, defendant Derek Nathan Lopez gamble is said to have later saved Rob.
(US District Court)
On May 13, 2023, Lopez reportedly told his conspirators that he had a significant amount of money on casino chips for the victim (identified as YW). After YW was kicked out of Parkwest Bicycle Casino, Lopez’s conspirators forced YW to park their car on the 710 off-ramp, stealing a winnings of around $60,000.
The following month, June 17th, Lopez, Gonzalez and other co-conspirators had to pursue two other victims at the casino and box them and park their cars on the ramp on Interstate 710, according to the charges. Prosecutors allege that the conspirator pulled a gun and took about $130,000 that the victim had cashed out of the casino.
Prosecutors also allege that Lopez gambled with the victims five months later, inside the Commerce Casino & Hotel.
Later that night, Lopez followed the HK vehicle, and the conspirators allegedly blocked the Normandy Avenue victim on the Interstate 10 off-ramp. The conspirators pulled the gun and set off with about $21,000 in cash.
According to La Lopez’s US Law Office, Lopez was charged in December 2023 with being a felon with three firearms and more than 30 rounds of ammunition at his home.
If convicted of federal charges, Gonzalez and Lopez will be brought back to life in prison.
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