A 27-year-old Fullerton man pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges for a string of gas station robberies in Orange and Los Angeles counties last year with a replica handgun.
According to his plea agreement, Gerardo Sotelo, who is scheduled to be sentenced May 17, faces between 110 to 137 months in federal prison, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Tenley.
Sotelo was arrested in May after robbing a gas station in Artesia, which he also held up on April 18 of last year, according to an affidavit filed by an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
When charges were filed last year, the agent alleged Sotelo was suspected of robbing convenience stores dating back to October 2016.
According to the plea agreement reached Jan. 14, Sotelo admits the following robberies:
–A Chevron gas station, 13356 South St., Cerritos, on April 4;
–A Chevron gas station, 16725 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia, on April 18;
–A Shell gas station, 1124 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton, on April 24;
–The Chevron gas station, 13356 South St., Cerritos, again on April 24;
–The Chevron gas station at 16725 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia, again on May 1;
Sotelo’s criminal history includes convictions for taking a car without permission, a misdemeanor, on Sept. 22, 2009; second-degree robbery on Sept. 16, 2011; misdemeanor theft on Feb. 7, 2012; and being in a gang and second-degree burglary, both misdemeanors, on Aug. 29, 2012, according to court records.