Four individuals were charged on Friday in connection with a series of organized smash-and-grab thefts in Riverside and Los Angeles counties. Additionally, six others were charged with organized retail theft at a shoe store in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles.
The 18-year-olds named in the 14-count felony complaint filed by the state Attorney General’s Office are Ziona Janea Famoso, Jordan Harris, Alana Hart, and Jason Jaylom Smith. Each of them is facing a charge of organized retail theft.
Famoso and Hart are accused of participating in a heist at a Burberry outlet store in Riverside County on August 1. They managed to steal nearly $100,000 worth of merchandise. On the other hand, Harris and Smith are charged with an armed carjacking on August 7 in Los Angeles County, with the added allegation that Harris used a firearm during the crime.
In addition, Famoso and Hart are also accused of involvement in a smash-and-grab robbery on August 8 at the Yves Saint Laurent store in the Americana at Brand Mall in Glendale. They made off with approximately $300,000 worth of merchandise. Famoso, Hart, and Harris are further accused of a robbery at the Nordstrom store at the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center on August 12, where over $350,000 worth of merchandise was stolen.
The charges against them include burglary, grand theft, vandalism, and robbery. Moreover, the criminal complaint states that Hart and Smith were released on bail or their own recognizance in previous cases at the time of these alleged crimes.
In a separate case, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged six individuals in connection with organized retail theft at a Warehouse Shoe Store (WSS). The suspects are Abraham Olivares (25), Raul Palazuelos, also known as Raul Perez (18), Joe Hernandez (24), Michonna Metcalf (30), and Henry Thomas and Trista Manuel (both 20). All of them have pleaded not guilty.
Olivares and Palazuelos allegedly stole a large quantity of merchandise from the shoe store without paying for it. Hernandez’s role in the incident was not immediately clarified.
The three were arrested on the evening of the theft by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Northwest Division. On the other hand, Metcalf, Thomas, and Manuel allegedly took merchandise from WSS and placed it in bags before being apprehended around half an hour later in downtown Los Angeles. The arrest took place near 8th and Alvarado streets.
In a statement, District Attorney George Gascón emphasized that the actions of those behind organized retail theft will not be tolerated. He assured that advanced investigative partnerships will be leveraged to track down and apprehend the responsible individuals. Gascón expressed the commitment of the Organized Retail Crime Task Force and the Organized Crime Division in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Attorney General Rob Bonta echoed these sentiments, stating that organized retail theft negatively impacts businesses, retailers, consumers, and public safety. He affirmed that the California Department of Justice and its partners will continue their efforts to ensure the safety of communities, businesses, and consumers, addressing retail theft and other crimes.
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