An illegal immigrant who had previously been deported confessed in court on Tuesday to a string of armed robberies targeting convenience stores throughout California. This was confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Jesús Soto-Parada, a 27-year-old from El Salvador, was apprehended on June 13, 2024, as he attempted to escape the scene of a robbery at a 7-Eleven near Los Angeles. His capture was made possible after a store clerk discreetly placed a GPS device within the stolen cash. Soto-Parada, together with an accomplice, is alleged to have conducted robberies in various stores across eight cities over a five-month span last year, as detailed by the Department of Justice.
Authorities have linked Soto-Parada to 11 robberies, though he has admitted guilt in seven incidents that took place across Los Angeles and Orange counties between January and June 2024.
According to federal prosecutors, Soto-Parada has entered a guilty plea for eight felony charges. These include one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and seven counts of robbery as defined under the Hobbs Act, a federal statute that criminalizes robbery or extortion affecting trade or commerce.
In one notable incident, a suspect wearing a black hoodie attempted to rob Monroe Liquor on January 11, 2024, as shown in DOJ records.
Prior to embarking on his robbery spree, Soto-Parada had multiple encounters with immigration enforcement, having been arrested by federal authorities in both 2016 and 2022, as highlighted by the prosecutors.
Authorities said that during his robbery spree in March 2024, Soto-Parada was arrested and subsequently deported to El Salvador the following month. He later returned to the United States and reportedly continued to commit robberies.
A second man in black hoodie was caught on surveillance footage holding a firearm during an attempted robbery at Monroe Liquor on Jan. 11, 2024. (DOJ)
Police were able to apprehend Soto-Parada and his accomplice, Daniel Pavon, during their most recent robbery at a 7-Eleven on June 13, thanks to a hidden GPS device the clerk had placed in the $250 they stole, which allowed officers to track their movements.
During the robbery, Soto-Parada, wearing a blue surgical mask and black sweatshirt, emptied the register while Pavon aimed a black replica handgun at the clerk, according to a criminal complaint.
A male suspect in a face mask and black hoodie appears to hold a firearm during a 7-Eleven robbery on June 13, 2024. (DOJ)
In total, the suspects stole around $13,950 in cash and $7,415 in merchandise.
Sentencing for Soto-Parada is scheduled for April 15, 2026. He could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count, prosecutors said.
