A 49-year-old Fontana man suspected of nine armed robberies in Orange County was charged Thursday in federal court with one hold-up.
Cyril Wallace, who was ordered held without bail, made his initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Douglas McCormick Thursday. He was ordered to return to court Oct. 31 for a post-indictment arraignment.
Wallace’s attorney, Kenneth Reed, declined comment after the hearing.
Wallace was arrested about 9:55 p.m. Wednesday at a Chevron station near the intersection of Katella Avenue and Beach Boulevard, Brian Ingargiola, a supervisor at the Orange County office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told CNS.
Wallace, who was wanted for at least eight other armed gas station robberies in Orange County, was arrested by the ATF after being identified as a person of interest in those robberies, which spanned the last two months, according to bureau Public Information Officer Meredith Davis. The amount of money taken in those robberies was not disclosed.
“Agents did develop intelligence that led to him as a suspect and they were surveilling him,” Davis said.
Under ATF surveillance, the suspect began “driving around as though he was casing different stores in the area,” Davis said. “When he did stop at that particular store (in Stanton), agents did attempt to speak to him and he tried to flee from officers, but he was taken into custody.”
No one was hurt in Wednesday’s incident, Davis said.
In the criminal complaint filed today by federal prosecutors, Wallace is accused of using an “airsoft” pistol last night to rob the Chevron store in Stanton. The clerk, thinking it was a real gun, handed over $111 in cash, prosecutors allege.
A search warrant filed by prosecutors alleges that Wallace is suspected of robberies between Aug. 25 and Oct. 6 in Fullerton, La Habra, Anaheim, Placentia, Westminster and Buena Park.
A state lottery investigator recognized Wallace in a wanted poster issued by La Habra police, according to prosecutors.
Wallace has three convictions for robberies, prosecutors said.
—City News Service