Four suspects charged in string of SoCal pharmacy robberies

A Victorville man and three other defendants face federal charges in connection with an alleged six-week-long robbery spree targeting pharmacies across three Southern California counties, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Diamond Lucious, 25, of Victorville; Aaron Carter, 39, of Fontana; Isaac Penaldoza, 35, of San Bernardino; and Kamaria Kendrick, 25, of Menifee were arrested immediately following their most recent alleged heist in Temecula, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. They're also suspected in pharmacy robberies that took place in recent weeks in Woodland Hills, Newport Beach and Fullerton.

Each was charged Wednesday with attempted interference with commerce by robbery, DOJ spokesman Ciaran McEvoy said.

"During each of the robberies, three male suspects would enter the pharmacies wearing hooded sweatshirts and face masks," McEvoy said in a written statement. "Two of the suspects would be armed with guns, force employees to the ground, steal cash from the registers, and violently drag employees around the store. The third suspect would grab a trash can from inside the pharmacies and put stolen medications in the trash can."

The alleged robbery spree came to an end on Monday, officials said.

Kendrick first "scouted out" the Apollo Pharmacy, 29645 Rancho California Rd. in Temecula, according to McEvoy. A short time later, Lucious, Carter and Penaldoza went into the business while Kendrick waited in a car.

Surveillance video taken at Apollo Pharmacy shows Carter, Lucious, and Penaldoza allegedly jumping over the counter. Lucious and Penaldoza then pointed guns at employees, yelled at the employees, and then grabbed the employees and forced them to lie on the ground, McEvoy said.

Carter demanded an employee open a safe at gunpoint, but the suspects fled empty-handed after the employee told them there was nothing inside the safe, prosecutors said.

Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives-led Orange County Violence Crime Task Force, who had been surveilling the suspects moved in to make an arrest as the ran back to their car and attempted to get away, ATF officials said.

Kendrick crashed into an unmarked law enforcement vehicle while attempting to flee, McEvoy said. The car was ultimately "immobilized," and the fours suspects were taken into custody without a struggle. A 9mm handgun fell from the car during the arrest.

In addition to the Temecula crime, robberies linked to the crew by investigators include one at the Delight Pharmacy, 21230 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills on Aug. 28; one at Mariners Pharmacy, 320 Superior Ave. in Newport Beach on Sept. 25; and one at the Fullerton Express Pharmacy, 105 W. Bastanchury Road in Fullerton on Sept. 30, according to the ATF.

Lucious, Carter and Penaldoza are legally barred from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, according to the DOJ.

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Carter was on post release community supervision and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of arrest. He was recently released from state prison, according to an ATF statement. Lucious was on federal probation after being released from federal prison for assault with a deadly weapon, while also on CDCR parole for assault with a deadly weapon. Penaldoza, a multi-convicted felon, was also on post release community supervision for firearm violations, ATF officials stated.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Four suspects charged in string of SoCal pharmacy robberies