LOS ANGELES
– A federal grand jury today returned an eight-count superseding indictment
that charges a Lynwood man with being the organizer and leader of a crew that
committed at least 15 armed robberies of independent and “mom-and-pop”
pharmacies across Southern California. The robbers allegedly stole a variety of
prescription medications – in particular, oxycodone – with the intent of
selling the stolen drugs on the black market.
The
suspected organizer and leader, Tyrome Lewis, 24, a.k.a. “Boobie,” was charged
with one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count
of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, two counts of interference with commerce
by robbery, two counts of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, and
two counts of knowingly using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of
violence. Lewis, who was previously arrested and charged in a criminal
complaint, is being held without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for August
22.
The superseding
indictment filed today adds Lewis to a case in which another man – Darrell
Mitchell, 29, of Long Beach – was previously charged. Darrell Mitchell, who is
a fugitive, also faces conspiracy, narcotics and firearms offenses.
The initial
indictment charged two additional co-conspirators, Terrell Mitchell, 31,
(Darrell Mitchell’s brother) and Deandre Bonney, 29, both from Compton. Terrell
Mitchell and Bonney have signed plea agreements in which they admitted their
involvement in a December 2018 robbery of a Glendale pharmacy. Terrell Mitchel
and Bonney are not named in the superseding indictment, and they are expected
to enter guilty pleas in September.
Over an
18-month period that ended just a few weeks ago, Lewis allegedly led an armed
crew that robbed pharmacies in Bellflower, Cerritos, South Los Angeles,
Westminster, Pico Rivera, Fullerton, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Anaheim,
Glendale, Riverside, Paramount, and Claremont. Lewis allegedly picked out the
robbery locations and provided details to the crew’s participants as to how the
robberies should be conducted, including what medications to target. Lewis also
traveled to the robbery locations in advance to scout the targeted stores and
later oversaw the robberies as they were committed, the indictment alleges.
Each of the
robberies shared a common modus operandi, including targeting smaller
pharmacies, placing the stolen prescription drugs into the pharmacy’s trash
bags or trash cans, using a black semi-automatic handgun to threaten and
intimidate store employees, forcing employees to open the medication vault, and
taking the store employees’ cell phones to prevent them from immediately
calling police, according to court documents.
In addition
to the Southern California robberies, the indictment alleges that Lewis was
involved in a burglary of a Walgreens pharmacy in Anthony, Texas in January
2018.
If convicted
of all charges, Lewis and Mitchell each would face a statutory maximum sentence
of life in federal prison.
Three
additional co-conspirators have been charged in a separate indictment. Aaron
Ganner, 27, Karon Lofton, 28, and Devon Jackson, 30, all from Compton, were
indicted for their role in a June 12 robbery of a pharmacy in Torrance. Ganner,
Lofton and Jackson were arraigned Thursday in United States District Court,
where they were ordered held without bond and a trial was scheduled for October
8.
An
indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every
defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt.
This matter
was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Torrance Police
Department.
This case is
being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky
and Joseph D. Axelrad of the Violent and Organized Crimes Section.
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