Crew Accused In Heists Across I.E. Targeting AutoZone Stores

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A federal grand jury Friday returned a 13-count indictment Friday against two men and a woman from Moreno Valley who allegedly committed at least eight armed robberies at AutoZone stores in the Inland Empire and made off with more than $11,000 in cash.

Daeon Raishawn Cox, 20, Dashon Raymond White, 24, and Jada Shardae Allen, 18, were charged in Riverside federal court with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Cox and White are in local custody and expected to be turned over to federal law enforcement officials on Monday. Allen, who was turned over to federal authorities on Feb. 25 in connection with the criminal complaint previously filed in the case, was freed on a $40,000 bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for March 13.

The indictment alleges that, over the course of three months late last year, Cox -- who was alternately aided by White, Allen and an unindicted juvenile -- robbed AutoZone stores in Riverside, San Bernardino, Grand Terrace, Redlands, Hemet and Fontana.

Typically, the robbers entered the auto supply stores at night, wearing black hoodies, black pants, gloves and with their faces covered by bandanas, according to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint. The robbers allegedly pointed guns at AutoZone employees and forced them to hand over money from the cash register or from the store safe.

The defendants were caught after an attempted robbery on Dec. 12 was interrupted by Fontana police, who had been conducting surveillance at an AutoZone store in that city, federal prosecutors said.

A Fontana police officer witnessed Cox and White exit White's gray Saturn SUV while Allen was seated in the back of the vehicle, according to the affidavit. Cox and White allegedly approached the AutoZone wearing black hooded sweatshirts and masks, while Cox carried an AR-15-type rifle and handed it to White. After the police officer identified himself, the defendants fled the scene, driving away in White's SUV at a high rate of speed, court papers allege.

During the pursuit, the rifle was thrown from the SUV's front passenger window onto the I-15/I-210 freeway interchange. The car chase ended when White's SUV crashed in Rancho Cucamonga and the defendants fled on foot, according to federal prosecutors.

Cox was caught while hiding in a nearby garbage can, while White and Allen were arrested the next day at their homes, the affidavit states. Fontana police later recovered the rifle -- which was loaded with eight rounds -- from the shoulder of the freeway.

In addition to the conspiracy count, Cox is charged with six counts each of interfering with commerce by robbery and using a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. White faces two robbery counts and two firearms counts, while Allen is charged with one count of robbery and one firearm count, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

If convicted, each defendants would face up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the robbery-related charges, as well as a mandatory seven- year consecutive sentence for the firearms offenses, prosecutors said.

— By City News Service