Two ex-cons accused of robbing two 7-Elevens following a spree of no less than 20 similar robberies and attempted heists dating back to February were expected to make their initial federal court appearances Monday in Santa Ana.
Marcus Toles, 48, of Los Angeles and Damian Brown, 35, also of Los Angeles, are charged with interfering with commerce by robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The ATF said it began investigating a series of robberies of 7-Elevens across Southern California last month. Typically during the robberies, two suspects wearing ski masks, with one carrying a hydraulic rescue tool commonly used by rescue works and referred to as the “jaws of life,” would enter the store and go directly to the ATM, according to the ATF Orange County Violent Crime Task Force.
Prosecutors contend that once inside the store, one suspect controlled the clerk, while the other used the rescue tool to gain access to the cash contained in the ATM machines. According to investigators, the same method was used in more than 15 similar robberies.
In the early morning hours on Friday, law enforcement personnel arrested Toles and Brown immediately after both allegedly committed back-to-back robberies of two 7-Eleven convenience stores located at 4901 Santa Monica Blvd. and 1874 South Western Ave., authorities said.
During the arrest, investigators allegedly recovered the stolen cash, a rescue tool, several firearms, as well as the stolen vehicle the two used to commit the robberies, the ATF said.
Toles and Brown were expected to make their initial appearance Monday in federal court in Santa Ana.