Two people were convicted for their involvement in a series of violent armed robberies targeting pharmacies across Southern California.
On Dec. 6, Diavion Deshawna Mouton, 23, of Carson, and Rodney Darrin Maxwell Evans, 23, of Vermont Square, were found guilty by a jury following a four-day trial, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Moutan and Evans were allegedly joined by at least five other suspects in the string of robberies including:
- Makai Yusef Sanders, 23, of Hathorne
- Kenyatta Kamar Jones, 23, of Hawthorne
- Adrian Timothy Bedran, 24, of Rosemead
- DeAngel Daryl Alvarez, 24, a.k.a. “Macc,” of the Athens area of South L.A.
- Kevin Antwon Gadley, 20, a.k.a. “One Shot,” of San Fernando
The robberies took place over a six-week span in 2023 between Aug. 9 and Sept. 19 and targeted numerous Rite Aid and Walgreens stores including in Long Beach, Bellflower, South Los Angeles, Pasadena, Whittier, Lakewood, Monterey Park, Burbank and Glendale.
“Mouton served as the driver while Sanders and Jones robbed the stores,” court documents said.
During two robberies that took place on Aug. 14, 2023 at Rite Aid stores in Bellflower and Vermont Square, officials said multiple firearms were brandished and store employees were forced to open the store’s safe.
In total, Evans and his accomplices that day — Sanders and Jones — escaped with a total of $12,410.
On Sept. 19, 2023, Mouton was involved in two armed robberies at a Walgreens store in Glendale and a Wingstop restaurant in Lynwood, court documents said.
She served as the getaway driver for both robberies, in which Sanders and Jones brandished firearms and stole around $1,776 from the businesses.
During the Walgreens incident, Sanders and Jones robbed a customer who was paying at a register. They held them at gunpoint and stole their iPhone. They threatened a store clerk at gunpoint and forced her to lead them to the store’s safe.
Along with the cash, the suspects also stole four iPhones from nearby customers before fleeing the store.
Days later on Sept. 26, 2023, detectives tracked down and arrested Sanders, Jones and Mouton. Evidence was found during the arrest that tied them to the robberies, officials said.
Evans and Mouton were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
They will face anywhere from 14 years to life in prison at a sentencing hearing on March 31, 2025.
Sanders and Jones pleaded guilty on Nov. 26 to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
In their plea agreements, both admitted to committing 12 armed robberies of local businesses. They face anywhere between seven years to life in prison at their sentencing hearings scheduled on March 17, 2025.
A fourth suspect, Adrian Timothy Bedran, 24, pleaded guilty on Sept. 9 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. He remains free on a $50,000 bond and awaits sentencing on Jan. 13, 2025.
The fifth suspect, DeAngel Daryl Alvarez, 24, a.k.a. “Macc,” is believed to be a fugitive, and the sixth suspect, Kevin Antwon Gadley, 20, remains in state custody on unrelated charges.
“Violent gun crime leaves emotional scars that last for years,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Through the Operation Safe Cities initiative, my office is partnering with local law enforcement to prosecute more and more cases that hold accountable those who choose to harm our communities.”
Multiple agencies were involved in the investigation including the FBI, the Glendale Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Inglewood Police Department, the Long Beach Police Department, the Pasadena Police Department, the Monterey Park Police Department. the Whittier Police Department and the Burbank Police Department.
