Six people were arrested in connection with a spree of jewelry store burglaries in Palm Desert and other counties, authorities said Wednesday.
The suspects were booked into Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of robbery, vandalism, grand theft, burglary, committing a theft with prior convictions and conspiracy, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
The suspects were identified as:
— Keyon Scott Hampton, 20, of Lancaster;
— Khalil Darius Tanner, 24, of Rosamond;
— J’Quan Glen Brasher, 28, of Lancaster;
— Jamial Damian Wilsin, 25, of Los Angeles;
— George Allen Diamond, 41, of Lancaster; and
— Ryan Hawes, 35 of Los Angeles.
Tanner’s bail was set at $90,000 and Hampton’s bail was set at $180,000. Wilson’s bail was set at $150,000. Diamond and Brasher were being held without bail. Hawes’ bail information was not immediately known.
Deputies responded shortly after 2:10 p.m. Aug. 9 to a jewerly store in the 72800 block of Highway 111 in Palm Desert regarding a report of a robbery, according to sheriff’s Sgt. James Mills.
Several witnesses called authorities to report that four masked individuals entered the business with hammers, destroyed several display cases and stole more than $87,000 in merchandise, Mills said.
Deputies learned that the theft in Palm Desert was connected to more than 10 “smash-and-grab” style robberies targeting jewelry stores in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties since May.
After a multi-agency operation, authorities arrested Tanner and Brasher in Lancaster without incident Sept. 11. Hampton was taken into custody without incident Sept. 16 in Lancaster.
On Sept. 18, Wilson was arrested without incident in Los Angeles, and Diamond was arrested without incident in Lancaster Tuesday, Mills said.
Hawes was taken into federal custody on an unrelated matter.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information was urged to contact 760-836-1600.