A pair of South Gate men are facing federal charges on allegations that they stalked more than a dozen casino winners and robbed them at gunpoint on highways.
According to the Office of the U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California, 22-year-old Juan Gabriel Gonzalez and 21-year-old Dereck Nathan Lopez are facing multiple counts of interference and attempted interference with commerce by robbery, one count of Hobbs Act conspiracy, and multiple counts of using firearms during a crime of violence.
Lopez was also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Federal prosecutors say the pair entered local casinos using fake names, “hunting” gamers who either won or were close to winning large amounts in gaming chips.
The pair, along with unnamed co-conspirators, then tracked the winners to their vehicles and ambushed them on nearby highways, prosecutors said. On the highway, they would allegedly brandish firearms, bust windows, and demand the cash or chips before fleeing the scene.
These scenarios happened at least 15 times, prosecutors allege.
Prosecutors cited a specific incident in which Lopez was spotted on casino surveillance footage. There, he could be seen celebrating a woman’s gambling victory, even high-fiving her after her win.
Less than an hour later, authorities said Lopez and his co-conspirators had the woman at gunpoint and stole $21,000 from her. In another instance, Lopez and Gonzalez allegedly stole at least $130,000 in casino winnings from a victim.
Lopez is also facing weapons charges, as he’s not legally permitted to own a firearm. He was convicted of grand theft in 2023.
If convicted of all charges, each man could face a life sentence in prison.
Gonzalez is set to make his first appearance in federal court on Friday. Lopez will appear in the coming weeks.
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