LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA – Two South Gate men pleaded guilty on Thursday to executing a high-stakes robbery spree that targeted Southern California casino winners, netting over $274,000 in cash and luxury goods.
The Scouting and Ambush Tactic
Federal prosecutors revealed that Derek Nathan Lopez (22) and Juan Gabriel Gonzalez (23) used fake identities to enter major Los Angeles County casinos. Their goal was to scout for patrons who appeared to be winning or were cashing in large amounts of chips.
Once a target was identified, the duo would follow the victims onto local highways. They would then pull the victims over, brandish firearms, smash car windows, and demand the cash.
Major Local Casinos Targeted
According to their plea agreements, Lopez and Gonzalez admitted to committing at least 15 armed robberies and attempted robberies between May and December 2023. The venues targeted included:
- The Commerce Casino & Hotel (Commerce)
- Parkwest Bicycle Casino (Bell Gardens)
- Hustler Casino (Gardena)
In one notable June 2023 incident, the pair ambushed two victims on the Florence Avenue onramp to the 710 Freeway in Bell, stealing $130,000 in cash. In another October 2023 heist, they followed a winner from the Hustler Casino to the 110 Freeway onramp, stealing $11,000 in cash and $6,000 worth of golf clubs.
Illegal Firearms and Sentencing
In total, the suspects stole $274,000 worth of cash, casino chips, designer bags, and passports. Additionally, federal prosecutors stated that Lopez admitted to illegal firearm possession. Law enforcement recovered three guns and over 30 rounds of ammunition from his South Gate home.
Lopez was already prohibited from carrying weapons due to a prior grand theft conviction in San Bernardino County. Both men have pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and are scheduled for sentencing in August.
