Two Southern California gang members were sentenced to prison for a violent robbery targeting elderly victims at a shopping mall.
Corey Thomas, 18, of Los Angeles, and Jonathan Requejo, 18, of Inglewood, were sentenced to two years in state prison for the incident, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
On June 27, Thomas, Requejo and three other juvenile suspects drove from the L.A. County area to The Oaks shopping mall in Thousand Oaks.
As they entered a Macy’s store, security footage captured the group suddenly attacking two elderly shoppers.
They stole a Rolex watch from the male victim and a purse and cell phone from the female victim, authorities said. Both victims were left with significant injuries from the assault.
Police responded to the scene, spotted the suspects’ vehicle and attempted to pull them over. They refused to yield and led officers on a high-speed pursuit on the southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway.
During the chase, one of the suspects threw a loaded firearm out the window. The driver eventually pulled over and three of the four occupants hopped out and began fleeing on foot.
Police eventually located all four suspects and took them into custody. The stolen items from the elderly couple were also recovered during the arrest.
Both Thomas and Requejo were identified as documented Crips gang members by L.A. County law enforcement.
On Sept. 10, both men pled guilty to multiple felony counts of second-degree robbery, elder abuse, theft from an elder, and conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery. Thomas also pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and felony evading from law enforcement.
The special allegations also found true included that the crimes involved great violence, the victim was vulnerable and great bodily injury was inflicted on an elder over the age of 70.
“Every citizen in Ventura County deserves the right to be safe and secure while going about their day,” said Hayley Moyer, a deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case. “While we cannot reverse the irreparable harm done to these victims, we hope the sentences today sends a message that we will prosecute those responsible for violent crimes to the fullest extent.”
