Richie Litigation substitutes in as counsel of record for named defendant in Grand Jury Indictment.
As Reported on My News LA:
Grand jury indictments against 31 alleged gang members facing 93 total felony counts — including home invasion robbery, elder abuse, and torture — were unsealed Monday as two-thirds of the defendants pleaded not guilty to participating in a burglary ring targeting elderly and Asian victims.
Eight other cases against some of the defendants — including for allegedly burglarizing the homes of Los Angeles-area celebrities and athletes, including singer Rihanna, then-Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods — are superseded by the indictments.
A pretrial hearing is set for April 5 downtown.
Six separate indictments were issued with counts including criminal street gang conspiracy; home invasion robbery; first-degree residential burglary; first-degree residential robbery; first-degree burglary, person present; elder abuse; torture; and mayhem, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Defendants are also facing gang and gun allegations.
Tyress Williams, 19, was initially arrested Sept. 28 by Los Angeles police and charged in connection with those celebrity break-ins, while three other people were released from jail after prosecutors asked Los Angeles police to conduct further investigation.
Police said Williams was picked up after a traffic stop in South Los Angeles revealed a firearm and items believed to have been taken from burglarized homes.
Detectives originally thought the burglaries targeting actors, producers’ musicians and professional athletes were set up at random but later discovered the homes were selected based on social media posting and tour and travel schedules.
The burglaries followed a pattern called “flocking,” whereby suspects flock to celebrities’ neighborhoods, dressing in nice clothes and driving luxury vehicles to avoid suspicion as they search for targets. They would then change into casual clothing, including hoodies, and use a larger vehicle to haul away stolen items.
One suspect would typically knock or ring a doorbell to check if anyone was home before breaking into a residence, according to police.
While those alleged crimes were designed to take place when no one was at home, prosecutors said the ring sometimes attacked other victims.
Prosecutors allege the burglary ring worked from October 2017 through December 2018 and hit 69 victims at residential properties from Santa Monica and Beverly Hills to communities in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys.
The majority of cases targeted elderly and Asian residents, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The defendants arraigned Monday include:
— Hassan Murphy, 19, of Hawthorne;
— Jshawne Lamon Daniels, 20, of Los Angeles;
— Damaji Corey Hall, 19, of Los Angeles;
— Lance Williams, 19, of Los Angeles;
— Dekell Wright, 22, of Compton;
— Elan Lamberto Gabourel, 25, of Hawthorne;
— Tyress Williams, 19, of Van Nuys;
— Joseph Holley, 23, of Bellflower;
— Demonte Jordan Sears, 23, of Los Angeles;
— Anthonyo Sanders, 20, of Los Angeles;
— Kimya Wilson, 21, of Los Angeles;
— Deanthony Lamart Chatman, 27, of Inglewood;
— Deondra Devon Johnson, 24, of Los Angeles;
— Akeem F. Lauriano, 28, of Lomita;
— Scotty Richardson, 30, of Los Angeles;
— Verlton Glaspie, 19, of Los Angeles;
— Brandon Laititi, 25, of Carson;
— Ron Simmons, 20, of Los Angeles;
— Eric Harris, 20, of Gardena;
— Donnie Faizon, 22, of Los Angeles;
— Devin Garner, 25, of Los Angeles; and
— Tyshon McKinney, 20, of Los Angeles.
The nine other defendants charged in the indictments were not yet in custody.
If convicted as charged, all of the defendants face a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison.
As reported on TMZ:
The L.A. celebrity burglary ring is WAY bigger than we thought — officials say a total of 10 gang members were a part of the group targeting stars like Rihanna, Yasiel Puig, and LeBron James.
Officials had previously arrested 4 people in connection to the crime wave — after video captured a couple of guys breaking into Puig’s home and raiding his bedroom.
1 of the initial 4 suspects is apparently off the hook (the mother of one of the other suspects) but now 7 new men all between the ages of 18 and 25 have been arrested and charged with various crimes.
The charges include everything from criminal street gang conspiracy to 1st-degree residential burglary and home invasion robbery.
In total, cops say the burglary crew hit more than 24 homes — and had at least 12 more rich and famous targets in their sights, including Viola Davis.
The key to solving the case … cops say a neighbor of NFL star Robert Woods had called the police to report a robbery at his house. Cops located the suspect and, during the arrest, they found items connected to the other high profile cases.
In total, cops say the group stole more than $1 MILLION in the property — including $50,000 cash, watches, purses, and a vehicle. Cops say one of the suspects also had a firearm.
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