Armed crew that robbed pharmacies in O.C., L.A. and Riverside Counties arrested after a botched robbery and pursuit

TEMECULA, Ca. – The ATF arrested several multi-times convicted felons and a Menifee woman earlier this week while attempting an armed robbery following a six-week southern California armed robbery spree.

Aaron Carter, 39, of Fontana, Calif., Diamond Lucious, 25, of Victorville, Calif., Isaac Penaldoza, 35, of San Bernardino, Calif., and Kamaria Kendrick, 25, of Menifee, Calif., are charged federally with attempted interference with commerce by robbery. The defendants are expected to make their initial court appearances this afternoon in Santa Ana.

Carter is a multi-convicted felon who was on post release community supervision and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of arrest – having been recently released from a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) facility. Lucious, a multi- convicted felon, 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.

Since August, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Orange County Violent Crime Task Force (OCVCTF) has been investigating a series of armed robberies of pharmacies across Southern California.

The pharmacy robberies included:

• Delight Pharmacy Robbery, 21230 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, Calif. on Aug. after 28, 2024
• Apollo Pharmacy Robbery, 29645 Rancho California Road, Temecula, on Sept. 13, 2024;
• Mariners Pharmacy Robbery, 320 Superior Ave., #120, Newport Beach, Calif., on Sept. 25, 2024; and
• Fullerton Express Pharmacy, 105 W. Bastanchury Road, Unit #D, Fullerton, Calif. on Sept. 30, 2024.

The task force reviewed local police reports related to the pharmacy robberies, surveillance footage, conducted follow up surveillance, and collaborated with other involved law enforcement investigators to identify suspects believed to be responsible for the robberies. The similarities of the robberies included three male suspects entering the businesses wearing hooded sweatshirts and face masks. Two of the suspects were always armed with handguns and would force employees to the ground. The third suspect would grab a trash can from inside the business and put the stolen medications inside. The two suspects, armed with handguns, would steal cash from the registers and violently drag employees around the store, according to the federal affidavit.

On Monday at about 4 p.m., OCVCTF was conducting surveillance when they observed an attempted armed robbery occurring at Apollo Pharmacy, 29645 Rancho California Road, Temecula.

Kendrick was observed wearing a medical mask and hat scouting the Apollo Pharmacy by walking around the pharmacy building while on her phone and then driving around the building several times.

Carter, Lucious, and Penaldoza entered the pharmacy wearing hooded clothing, gloves, and masks while Kendrick waited in the vehicle. All three were observed by ATF running back to the vehicle to flee. The task force attempted to arrest the suspects when Kendrick tried to evade them and struck one of the unmarked law enforcement vehicles. While OCVCTF personnel immobilized the getaway vehicle, a 9 mm pistol was thrown from the car. All four were arrested at the scene without further incident.

According to the federal affidavit, three of the four arrested had lengthy criminal histories. Carter was first arrested in 2003 for weapons violations. Since then, he has had multiple felony convictions for robbery, burglary and felon in possession of a firearm. Carter was also arrested in Los Angeles County in September, for felony evasion from police while armed with a pistol. At the end of the pursuit, Carter barricaded himself in the vehicle for more than an hour before surrendering to law enforcement. Carter was booked into the Los Angeles County jail where he was released on bail after nine days. The following day, the Newport Beach pharmacy robbery occurred.

Lucious was released from federal prison a year ago. Lucious was first arrested in 2014, and since has been convicted of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon, and various firearms offenses.

Penaldoza was first arrested in 1999. Since then, he has been convicted of sales of narcotics, felon in possession of a firearm, and participating in a criminal street gang.

The ATF OCVCTF was formed to investigate violent crime, with a focus on serial robberies throughout Southern California. The ATF-led task force is comprised of personnel from the Brea Police Department, the Fullerton Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe, of the Central District of California, the Violent and Organized Crime Section, are prosecuting this case.