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Two Southern California gang members have been sentenced to prison for violent robberies of elderly people at shopping malls.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that Corey Thomas, 18, of Los Angeles, and Jonathan Requejo, 18, of Inglewood, were sentenced to two years in state prison in the case.
On June 27, Thomas, Requejo, and three other juvenile suspects drove from the Los Angeles County area to the Oaks Shopping Mall in Thousand Oaks.
As they entered the Macy’s store, security camera footage showed the group suddenly attacking two elderly shoppers.
They stole a Rolex watch from a male victim and a wallet and cell phone from a female victim, authorities said. Both victims suffered serious injuries from the assault.
Police responded to the scene, located the suspect’s vehicle and attempted to stop it. They refused to yield and led officers on a high-speed chase in the southbound lanes of Highway 101.
From left: Corey Thomas, 18, of Los Angeles, and Jonathan Requejo, 18, of Inglewood, are shown in a booking photo from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
During the chase, one of the suspects threw a loaded gun out a window. The driver eventually stopped the vehicle and three of the four occupants jumped out and began fleeing on foot.
Police eventually located all four suspects and took them into custody. Items stolen from the elderly couple were also recovered during the arrest.
Both Thomas and Requejo were identified as documented Crips gang members by LA County law enforcement.
On September 10, both men pleaded guilty to multiple felonies, including second-degree robbery, elder abuse, theft from an elderly person and conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery. Thomas also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and felony fleeing from law enforcement.
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It was also found to be true that the crime involved serious violence, the victim was in a vulnerable position and that the offense caused serious injury to an elderly person aged over 70.
“Every resident of Ventura County has the right to live out their days in safety,” said Assistant District Attorney Haley Moyer, who prosecuted the case. “While nothing can undo the irreparable harm inflicted on these victims, we hope that today’s sentence sends a message that those responsible for violent crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”
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