Two South Gate men are expected to plead guilty Thursday to a federal charge for allegedly committing more than a dozen armed robberies targeting the winnings of people leaving local casinos.
Juan Gabriel Gonzalez, 23, and Dereck Nathan Lopez, 22, both agreed to enter a plea in Los Angeles federal court to a single count of interference with commerce by robbery.
The 10-count indictment alleges that between May and December of 2023, Lopez and Gonzalez entered the Hustler Casino, Parkwest Bicycle Casino and the Commerce Casino & Hotel under false names to hunt gamblers appearing to win or cash-in a large number of chips.
Lopez, Gonzalez and others then followed the victims’ vehicles from the casinos, ambushed them on the highway, brandished firearms, smashed the vehicle’s windows, demanded money or chips and fled, prosecutors allege.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lopez, Gonzalez and associates allegedly robbed and attempted to rob individuals leaving casinos on at least 12 occasions, including three on a single night, making off with a total of at least $274,000 in cash, casino chips and other property.
For example, in October 2023, the defendants followed a victim around the Hustler Casino in Gardena, watching as the man cashed out $11,000 in chips and left the casino. As the victim drove home on the 110 Freeway on-ramp from Redondo Beach Boulevard, the defendants stopped the man’s car, pointed a gun at him and robbed him, prosecutors contend.
Before another incident, Lopez is seen on casino surveillance video celebrating a gambling victory with a victim he was scouting, including high-fiving the woman after the win, court documents allege.
Within an hour, Lopez’s co-conspirators had allegedly blocked her vehicle, brandished firearms and stolen $21,000 in cash. In a separate incident, Lopez, Gonzalez and their co-conspirators stole at least $130,000 in casino winnings from someone else, federal prosecutors contend.
Officials say Lopez was in possession of three firearms and over 30 rounds of ammunition found at his home in December 2023. Lopez is not legally permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition because his criminal history includes a conviction in San Bernardino Superior Court for grand theft in November 2023 during the period of the robbery spree, prosecutors said.
If their plea is accepted, each defendant would potentially face up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors noted.