Armed robber who targeted stores in Orange County gets a 12-year prison sentence

SANTA ANA, California – A Riverside County man was sentenced today to 144 months (12 years) in federal prison for the armed robbery of a convenience store in Orange County – his tenth such robbery committed during a two-day crime spree in late 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

George Arizon, 28, of Corona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who also ordered him to pay $3,658 in restitution.

Arizon pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

On November 8, 2022, Arizon robbed a 7-Eleven store in Westminster. During the robbery, he brandished a semi-automatic handgun and used it to threaten a store employee. In fear for his safety, the employee handed Arizon $80 in cash and two packs of cigarettes. This was the tenth robbery Arizon committed during a two-day spree.

In his plea agreement, Arizon admitted to committing nine other armed robberies of businesses – eight restaurants and one hair salon – in Santa Ana, Garden Grove, and Westminster over a span of two days. In each of those robberies, Arizon brandished a firearm to threaten and intimidate the businesses’ employees.

Police officers responding to calls about the Westminster robberies later recovered and retained a black sweatshirt, black hat, and mask that Arizon wore during the crimes, according to court documents. Officers also recovered the black semi-automatic handgun, with a gold-colored barrel, which had been discarded nearby. Security camera footage showed Arizon wearing this apparel, court documents state.

Arizon stole a total of $3,658 during his crime spree.

“[Arizon] repeatedly pointed a ghost gun at victims to force them to hand over the stores’ money,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “When investigators arrested him and searched his house, they found another firearm, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, spent shell casings, and drugs.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Orange County Violent Crime Task Force investigated this matter, and received assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department, the Garden Grove Police Department, and the Westminster Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Jena A. MacCabe of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.