"Jesus Soto-Parada, 26, was arrested along with his alleged accomplice, Daniel Pavon, early last year. Soto-Parada, 26, appeared in federal court in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce and seven counts of interfering with commerce by robbery. With his head dipped and voice low, Soto-Parada pleaded "culpable" through a Spanish interpreter as he forfeited his right to a trial."
"According to a criminal complaint, Soto-Parada, a native of El Salvador, and Pavon, a Honduran national, brandished weapons to rob multiple stores for a total of $20,000 in cash and merchandise. In January 2024, federal and local authorities began to investigate a series of armed robberies in the Orange County area. Workers at multiple stores described two subjects wearing blue surgical face masks, one of whom would control clerks with a weapon while the other ransacked the business for products and cash."
Jesus Soto-Parada pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce and seven counts of interfering with commerce by robbery. He and alleged accomplice Daniel Pavon allegedly brandished weapons to rob multiple liquor and convenience stores, stealing about $20,000 in cash and merchandise. Nine armed robberies in Orange County occurred between January and February 2024, with two men wearing blue surgical masks, one controlling clerks with a weapon while the other ransacked businesses. Soto-Parada was detained and deported by Border Patrol in April after a traffic stop in Arizona; he had prior removal orders and deportation attempts since 2016. Pavon remains in custody and faces trial in January.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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