A Huntington Park man was sentenced Monday to 21 years in federal prison for robbing 19 Trader Joe’s stores at gunpoint and trying to rob a couple more Trader Joe’s during a crime spree in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties two years ago.
Federal authorities estimated the loss at $55,000. His son acted as the getaway driver in two of the robberies.
Between Aug. 28 and Dec. 4, 2020, Gregory Johnson hit stores in Eagle Rock, Sherman Oaks, Chatsworth, Glendale, Pasadena, Monrovia, San Dimas, Culver City, Chino Hills, Manhattan Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Cerritos, Brea, Santa Ana, Agoura Hills, Tustin and Irvine. He also attempted to rob Trader Joe’s stores in Simi Valley and Corona.
He robbed the Rancho Palos Verdes and Brea stores twice.
“We don’t know why he targeted Trader Joe’s,” Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said.
Johnson, 44, was convicted in 2000 for robbing a Trader Joe’s and served 12 years in prison, according to court documents and Mrozek. He was on probation when he went on the armed robbery spree in 2020.
A deputy federal public defender who represented Johnson couldn’t be reached for comment and a private attorney who was listed in court documents as being his attorney declined comment on Monday.
Johnson pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Johnson and his son were caught in Dec. 4, 2020 after a robbery at the Trader Joe’s at 13911 Peyton Drive in Chino Hills.
Gregory Johnson approached an employee working behind the manager’s station, brandished a 9mm pistol and gave the employee a blue drawstring bag, according to court documents. Johnson took bundles of cash and placed it in the blue bag. The employee also put cash in the bag. Johnson stole about $3,800.
A security guard saw him get in the passenger’s side of a silver Toyota Highlander. The guard followed the Highlander onto freeways, and the California Highway Patrol pulled the vehicle over at the junction of the 60 and 10 freeways.
Johnson’s son, Gregory Eric Johnson, 20, of South Los Angeles, turned out to be driver. The elder Johnson was in a passenger seat. Officers also found the bag with the cash, a loaded gun and clothes, backpack and a Raiders cap in the Highlander.
Gregory Eric Johnson, who was also the getaway driver in the Chatsworth robbery, pleaded guilty in March 2021 to interference with commerce by robbery. He was sentenced last month to two years in federal prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office wanted a 27-year sentence for the elder Johnson, followed by five years supervised release and $100,956.53 in restitution.
Federal prosecutors pointed out that in each of the 21 robberies and attempted robberies, Johnson pointed a gun at the employees and used the gun to control the employees. The crimes terrorized the employees and customers, they added.
“Defendant’s crimes could have easily ended with an innocent civilian being wounded or killed. He had numerous opportunities to change course,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky and Joseph D. Axelrad wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
The prosecutors noted that when Johnson used his son as a getaway driver in two of the robberies, he subjected him to danger and criminal penalties. They said Johnson has a serious and violent criminal history dating back to 1995 when he was convicted for assault with a deadly weapon. He has 16 convictions including five felony convictions for transporting controlled substance, receiving known stolen property, robbery and burglary.
Andrew Byrd, deputy federal public defender, asked for a sentence of 15 years followed by five years of supervised release.
“While the underlying conduct of the plea represents dangerous and serious lapses in judgment, the history and characteristics of Mr. Johnson’s life are replete with poverty, neglect, and despair,” Byrd wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
Source: Orange County Register
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