Suspects from South Gate reportedly targeted casino victory drivers in over a dozen highway heists, according to federal authorities.
Rewritten Article:
Casino Highway Bandits: The True Tale of Two South Gate Men
Hey there! Let's dive into a juicy piece of news about a pair of South Gate men, Juan Gabriel Gonzalez and Dereck Nathan Lopez, accused of orchestrating a series of brazen highway robberies on unsuspecting casino winners in LA County.
These crafty cats were on the prowl in 2023, reportedly ambushing 15 casino patrons leaving their favorite casinos, following them from the casinos, brandishing guns, smashing car windows, and ransacking their vehicles for cash, chips, and other valuable items. With their ill-gotten goods, they made off with a whopping $274,600, according to an unsealed indictment from May 2025.
Gonzalez, 22, and Lopez, 21, have each been hit with multiple counts of Hobbs Act violations (interference and attempted interference with commerce by robbery), conspiracy, and using firearms during violent crimes. Lopez, on top of it all, faces additional charges for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, with a prior conviction for grand theft under his belt, as well as possession of three firearms and over 30 rounds of ammunition found at his residence in December 2023.
Should they be found guilty, Gonzalez and Lopez could be facing life in prison. Gonzalez made his court debut on Friday, while Lopez remains in state custody, expected to make a federal court appearance in the forthcoming weeks. As for their legal representation, Gonzalez's attorney has been silent so far, and it's uncertain whether Lopez has secured counsel.
These smooth operators are said to have singled out gamblers from four popular casinos: Parkwest Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, Hustler Casino in Gardena, The Commerce Casino & Hotel in Commerce, and The Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens. Their MO? Enter the casinos using fake driver's licenses, and focus on targeting Asian victims who seemed to have big winnings, according to the 10-count indictment.
One infamous robbery occurred on May 13, 2023, when Lopez's crew allegedly targeted a fortunate player, Y.W., who left the Parkwest Bicycle Casino with $60,000 in chips. After following Y.W., they reportedly pulled him over on an exit ramp off I-710 and relieved him of his winnings.
In June 2023, the same pair of miscreants worked together to rob another pair of victims from the same casino, cornering them on I-710's Florence Avenue off-ramp, and making off with around $130,000, which the victims had just cashed out from the casino.
Lopez is also alleged to have gambled with a victim, H.K., at the Commerce Casino & Hotel, placing the same bets and even backslapping her when he won, only to follow H.K. later that night, block her on the I-10 Normandie Avenue off-ramp, and rob her of around $21,000 in cash.
Outside of these sensational claims, there's no verified connection between Brittny Mejia and this robbery case, as no relevant charges or involvement in LA County have been linked to her currently available information.
Please remember, this is just a brief rundown of the events occurring in the case at hand. For more juicy tidbits and related tales, be sure to check out the articles on Bitcoin-mining computers, tequila, body wash, and elder victims targeted in bank and real estate schemes, among others. Stay tuned!
- Juan Gabriel Gonzalez and Dereck Nathan Lopez, South Gate men, appeared in court for allegedly orchestrating robberies targeting casino winners in Los Angeles County in 2023.
- The duo, known as 'Casino Highway Bandits', were accused of ambushing 15 victims, stealing $274,600, and using firearms during their crimes.
- Both defendants face several charges, including Hobbs Act violations, conspiracy, and using firearms during violent crimes. Lopez also faces additional charges for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
- If convicted, Gonzalez and Lopez could spend the rest of their lives in prison. Gonzalez made his court debut, while Lopez remains in custody, waiting for his federal court appearance.
- The alleged criminals targeted gamblers from four popular casinos, including Parkwest Bicycle Casino, Hustler Casino, The Commerce Casino & Hotel, and The Gardens Casino, with a focus on Asian victims.
- Among the incidents, Lopez is suspected of following a winner from the Parkwest Bicycle Casino, robbing her of $60,000 in casino chips, and later allegedly gambling with another victim and then robbing her of $21,000 in cash.
