Twenty L.A. gang members charged with burglaries in Orange County and are facing felony charges

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Dec. 14, 2023): Twenty defendants, including five juveniles, have been charged in connection with a multi-agency operation to dismantle an extensive Los Angeles County burglary crime ring responsible for 34 residential burglaries across Orange County, including breaking into homes where residents were home. The loss is estimated to be more than $500,000 in stolen cash, guns, jewelry, and other luxury items.

Nine of the defendants were arrested in a law enforcement sweep Wednesday; the remaining 11 defendants remain wanted on felony warrants. The adult suspects face numerous felony charges in connection with the burglaries with maximum sentences ranging from six years to 28 years and four months in state prison.

In September 2022, the OC Sheriff North Directed Enforcement Team (DET) began separate investigations into three home burglaries; one that occurred in Yorba Linda and two that occurred in unincorporated Santa Ana. As the investigation progressed, they determined the crimes were connected.

DET began working a comprehensive investigation and determined the suspects were responsible for 34 residential burglaries, one commercial burglary and two cases of conspiracy to commit burglaries in nine cities and the county’s north unincorporated areas.

Throughout the 13-month investigation, DET partnered with the Anaheim, Cypress, Fullerton, Laguna Beach, Orange, Placentia, Torrance and Westminster police departments. The Fullerton Police Department served as the lead agency on 19 of the burglary cases and the Sheriff’s Department assumed the lead role on the remaining 18 cases.

The investigative teams identified 20 suspects with ties to Los Angeles-based gangs who worked as part of a crime ring to target their victims.

Most often, the burglaries occurred during the day and the suspects smashed back doors to gain entry to the residence before stealing high-value items such as jewelry, handbags and cash. In one case, the suspects stole a Range Rover, which was later recovered and returned the victim.

Working with SWAT teams from OC Sheriff, the Torrance Police Department, North County SWAT and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the investigative teams conducted a joint operation on Wednesday, Dec. 13, to arrest the suspects.

Search warrants were served at four locations in Los Angeles County and nine suspects were arrested on multiple felony charges including burglary, first-degree residential burglary and conspiracy. They were subsequently booked into the Orange County Jail.

“The ability of these investigative teams to connect these crimes and build a comprehensive case is a testament to the tenacity and commitment of Orange County’s law enforcement personnel,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “An extensive amount of work went into coordinating efforts to disrupt this criminal behavior, and Orange County is now safer because of their expertise and dedication.”

“Our homes should be where we feel our safest,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “That sense of safety and security has been shattered by organized crime rings who are breaking into our homes to take cash, jewelry, guns, and cars and selling these stolen goods for whatever they can get for it. There are few things more terrorizing than to come face to face with a stranger in your own home knowing full well the only reason they are there is to steal from you. I want to make something extremely clear to every inmate in our jails and to every criminal thinking about coming to Orange County to commit a crime, crime doesn’t pay in Orange County. If you come to Orange County to steal, we’re going to find you, we’re going to arrest you and we are going to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

“I could not be more proud of our patrol officers who conducted thorough initial investigations and the detectives who relentlessly pursued each case,” said Jon Radus, Interim Fullerton Police Chief. “We are grateful for our law enforcement partnerships, which led to a successful operation that will hopefully bring some closure to the victims of these crimes. This sends a strong message to criminals who commit crimes in Fullerton that they will be held accountable for the harm they cause to our community.”

This investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement believes the burglary crew has been involved in additional cases. Anyone with additional information that may assist investigators, is encouraged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

APPENDIX A

Prosecutors with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office have charged 15 adult defendants with numerous felonies connected to 34 residential burglaries, two attempted residential burglaries, and a commercial burglary. Five juvenile defendants have also been arrested in connection with the burglaries.

• Case #23NF2970 – Hamilton et. all
  • Deautri Hamilton, 30, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
      • 8 felony counts of first-degree burglary
      • 4 felony counts of first-degree attempted burglary of an inhabited building
    • Maximum exposure: 18 years
  • Jesus Alberto Guerra, 29, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
      • 14 felony counts of first-degree burglary
      • 2 felony counts of first-degree attempted burglary of an inhabited building
      • 1 felony count of grand theft auto
      • 1 felony count of grand theft firearm
      • 1 felony count of first-degree robbery
    • Maximum exposure: 28 years, 4 months
  • Javier Guerrero, 31, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
      • 8 felony counts of first-degree burglary
      • 4 felony counts of first-degree attempted burglary of an inhabited building
    • Maximum exposure: 18 years, 4 months
  • Michael Jason Serrano, 21, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
      • 1 felony count of first-degree burglary
      • 1 felony count of first-degree attempted burglary of an inhabited building
    • Maximum exposure: 6 years, 8 months
  • Tyrell Benyon Haley, 23, of Compton
    • Charged with:
      • 1 felony count of first-degree burglary
      • 1 felony count of first-degree attempted burglary of an inhabited building
      • Haley has a second-strike prior
    • Maximum exposure: 18 years, 4 months
  • Michael Jason Serrano, 21, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
      • 1 felony count of first-degree burglary
      • 1 felony count of first-degree attempted burglary of an inhabited building
    • Maximum exposure: 6 years, 8 months
• Case #23NF2952 – Roberts et. all
  • Nathaniel Eric Roberts, 25, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
      • 5 felony counts of first-degree burglary
      • 1 felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime
    • Maximum exposure: 12 years, 8 months
  • Jeris Je Young Abalos, 34, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
      • 1 felony count of first-degree burglary
    • Maximum exposure: 6 years
  • Tahj Kamare Richardson, 21, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
      • 1 felony count of first-degree burglary
    • Maximum exposure: 6 years
  • Keven Von Claudell Holland, 35, of Los Angeles
    • Charged with:
    • 1 felony count of first-degree burglary
  • Maximum exposure: 6 years
  • Kadin Isaiah Williams, 22, of Lakewood
    • Charged with:
      • 1 felony count of first-degree burglary
    • Maximum exposure: 6 years
  • Jamari Nijie Devon Manning, 19, of Los Angeles
  • Charged with:
  • 5 felony counts of first-degree burglary
  • 1 felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime
  • Maximum exposure: 12 years, 8 months
  • Case #23NF2955 – McClendon et. all
  • Quaion Jayvion McClendon, 23, of Compton
  • Charged with:
  • 6 felony counts of first-degree burglary
  • Maximum exposure: 12 years, 8 months
  • Deion Robert Franklin, 19, of Los Angeles
• Charged with:
  o 4 felony counts of first-degree burglary
  o 1 felony count of first-degree attempted burglary of an inhabited building
  o 1 felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime
  o 2 felony counts of grand theft auto
  o 2 felony counts of grand theft firearm
  o 1 felony count of second-degree robbery
• Maximum exposure: 13 years
• Mika Mark McGee, 20, of Compton
• Charged with:
• 2 felony counts of first-degree burglary
• 1 felony count of second-degree burglary
• Maximum exposure: 8 years
• Joshua Jeremiah Rivas, 20, of Los Angeles
• Charged with:
• 2 felony counts of first-degree burglary
• Maximum exposure: 7 years, 4 months
  

APPENDIX B

• Burglary locations
  • Anaheim – 4
  • Cypress – 1
  • Laguna Beach –2
  • Fullerton – 19
  • Orange – 1
  • Placentia – 1
  • Rossmoor (unincorporated) – 1 attempted
  • Santa Ana (unincorporated) – 3
  • Westminster – 1
  • Yorba Linda – 3
  • Villa Park- 1 attempted

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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