Armed Burglars Leaving Casino Victims with Potential Lengthy Sentences
TITLE: Californian Casino Robbery Duo Snares Winning Gamblers on Freeways
May 9, 2025, 08:21h Last updated: May 9, 2025, 08:21h
Corey Levitan Read More Commercial Gaming Entertainment Expert Insight Las Vegas Restaurants Las Vegas Myths
In Southern California, Two men from South Gate, Juan Gabriel Gonzalez, 22, and Dereck Nathan Lopez, 21, are under federal charges for robbing over a dozen casino winners on highways.
Casino goers beware! The duo, using fake identities, targeted generous gambling souls, only to follow and ambush them on busy freeways. Wielding weapons, they cracked car windows demanding cash, chips, or any winnings they could grab.
According to the U.S. Justice Department report, these highway robberies occurred not less than 15 times, with nights bustling with multiple hits, striking as many as three casinos on peak evenings, stealing vast sums of over $130K.
As depicted on an unnamed casino's surveillance footage, one unfortunate victim, a woman, completed a victorious high-five with Lopez, only an hour before her fiesta turned sour. As their co-conspirators swooped in, she grieved the loss of a hearty $21K.
Now staring down the barrel of a tenacious ten-felony charges each, the robbers face multiple counts of interference and attempted interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act conspiracy, and multiple counts of using firearms in a crime of violence[2][4]. Lopez also bears an additional charge for being a past felon in possession of firearms and ammunition[4].
In the face of all charges, each man risks spending the rest of their life behind bars.
Fun fact: Though their names have been associated with Southern California casinos, they remain oddly absent from the radar of Las Vegas casinos.
Enrichment Insights:- The details provided seem to be mostly accurate, except for the erroneous association of Gonzalez and Lopez with Las Vegas casinos.- The suspected crimes involve Gonzalez and Lopez targeting gamblers at Southern California casinos, employing fake identities, following them, and ambushing them on highways.- Over the multiple robberies, they stole at least $274,600, not limited to cash, casino chips, and other property[4].- Both men face multiple charges - interference and attempted interference with commerce by robbery, Hobbs Act conspiracy, using firearms during a crime of violence, and Lopez also faces an additional charge for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition[4].- If convicted of all charges, each man could face up to life in federal prison[2][4].
- Juan Gabriel Gonzalez and Dereck Nathan Lopez, suspected robbers from South Gate, are under federal charges for robbing over a dozen casino winners on highways.
- Using fake identities, the duo targeted generous gambling souls, following and ambushing them on busy freeways, wielding weapons and demanding cash, chips, or any winnings.
- The U.S. Justice Department reports that these highway robberies occurred not less than 15 times, with nights bustling with multiple hits and striking as many as three casinos on peak evenings.
- In total, they are believed to have stolen vast sums of over $130K during these robberies, as per reports.
- A surveillance video from an unnamed casino shows one victim, a woman, celebrating a win with Lopez, only to lose $21K in a subsequent ambush by the robbers' co-conspirators.
- Facing ten-felony charges each, the robbers are charged with multiple counts of interference and attempted interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act conspiracy, and multiple counts of using firearms in a crime of violence.
- Lopez also faces an additional charge for being a past felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
- If convicted of all charges, each man could face up to life in federal prison.
- Interestingly, though their names have been associated with Southern California casinos, they remain absent from the radar of Las Vegas casinos.
