Skip to Content
Crime

Three South Bay Locals Arrested, Accused Of Armed Robbery At 10 L.A. Pharmacies

Federal prosecutors said one served as the driver while two Hawthorne men would rob the stores, usually before closing. They allegedly used handguns and would steal victims' cell phones, then go into the stores' offices, and take money from safes.

Nathaniel Yeo/Unsplash

Two South Bay men and one Harbor-area woman are expected to appear today in Los Angeles federal court to face charges of allegedly committing 10 armed robberies of chain pharmacy stores in Southern California over a six-week span, sometimes assaulting and injuring customers and employees in the process.

The defendants are charged with Hobbs Act robbery--robbery affecting interstate commerce--and using and carrying a firearm in a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The trio -- Makai Yusef Sanders, 22, of Hawthorne; Kenyatta Kamar
Jones, 22, of Hawthorne; and Diavion Deshawna Mouton, 22, of Carson--are
expected to make their initial appearances today in Los Angeles
federal court.

According to court documents, the defendants allegedly committed 10 armed robberies between Aug. 9 and Sept. 19 at Rite Aid and Walgreens stores in
Long Beach, Bellflower, South Los Angeles, Pasadena, Whittier, Lakewood,
Monterey Park, Burbank, and Glendale.

Federal prosecutors said Mouton served as the driver while Sanders and Jones would rob the stores, usually about one hour before closing. They allegedly used handguns and would steal victims' cell phones, then go into the stores' offices and take money from safes, prosecutors said.

During one such heists, one of the suspects allegedly robbed a Walgreens store employee by putting a gun in her back and demanding she take him to the store's safe, while using the barrel of the gun to push her to get her to move faster, according to prosecutors. When they reached the back of the store, the employee managed to lock herself inside an office and call 911 while the robber was distracted, according to prosecutors.

In total during the heist, the robbers stole about $776 from the Walgreens cash registers, along with four iPhones belonging to victims. The suspects fled in a white Honda Civic, which investigators determined had been booked through a car-sharing company, and allegedly was driven by Mouton.

Using phone records and GPS data, investigators tracked the defendants down and arrested them Sept. 26. At the time of their arrests, Jones and Sanders allegedly possessed handguns consistent with those used in the Walgreens robbery. Investigators also found clothing -- including a black mask with a red logo -- consistent with what one of the suspects wore during the robbery, prosecutors said.

The defendants were initially in state custody but were transferred to federal custody Tuesday.

If convicted as charged, each defendant would face up to 20 years in federal prison for the Hobbs Act robbery count and up to life in federal prison for the firearm count, prosecutors said.

Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

The 4/20 Guide to Underground Parties and Events to Celebrate Cannabis Culture In L.A.

A free music festival, workshops on how to grow your own herb, and other underground things happening around town to celebrate this year's 4/20!

The Demons Behind the Brisket: Heritage Barbecue’s Daniel Castillo’s Untold Raw Story to the James Beard Awards

He never told anyone—until now. Heritage Barbecue’s Daniel Castillo on alcoholism, fitting in with punk and rockabilly culture, and redemption. These are the questions no one asked him about. This is how he overcame his broken family to become the celebrated pitmaster he is now.

Cop’s Daughter Seeks Justice For Fatal LAPD Shooting of Her Husband Holding a Plastic Fork

“The same institution that he was murdered by is the same institution that he was married into,” Alex Smith said. “If this is something that can happen to a cop's daughter, this can happen to anyone.”

April 16, 2025

Meet the ‘Sabr-Ocho’ Taquerías That Moved On to Round 4. Tickets for Our Live Event Now Available!

Did your favorite spot make it to the Sabr-Ocho? The competition is getting fierce.

April 16, 2025
See all posts