Suspect In LA Stick Ups To Plead Guilty

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles man is expected to plead guilty today to sticking up gas stations and markets during a crime spree earlier this year that included a carjacking.

Namir Greene, 23, has agreed to enter his plea to one federal count of interference with commerce by robbery. At sentencing, he will face up to 20 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors allege that Greene committed the robberies in Los Angeles County from March 21 through April 15.

During the robberies, Greene brandished a gun, threatening to shoot store employees if they did not retrieve money for him from the cash register, according to his plea agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court.

Greene admitted in court papers that on April 4, he robbed a Shell gas station in Marina Del Rey by making a purchase and remaining inside the store until all other customers had left. After the gas station was empty, Greene admitted, he placed a brown paper bag on the counter and told the clerk "put everything in there." The suspect pointed what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun, but was actually a BB gun, at the clerk while demanding money. In fear, the clerk emptied the cash register and placed $700 into the brown paper bag. Greene said he then left.

In addition, Greene admitted having committed armed robberies, using a BB-gun to control store employees, at a Circle K in Long Beach, an AM/PM gas station in Whittier, the Gojo Ethio Market in Los Angeles, 7-Eleven stores in Pomona and Los Angeles, an Arco in Culver City, and a Mobile Fixx phone repair shop in Culver City.

In addition, Greene admitted using the BB-gun to steal a Honda Accord from the vehicle owner. Police said they located the stolen car in Ontario on April 15 and initiated a traffic stop. Greene instead tried to escape and a pursuit ensued, with Greene eventually losing control of the car, colliding with a curb, and disabling the vehicle, according to an affidavit. Greene ran from the disabled Honda Accord and was apprehended shortly afterward by law enforcement, who took him into custody, court papers show.

Greene was identified from security camera footage, eyewitness testimony, his tattoos, his jewelry and photographs in his Instagram account, according to the affidavit.

— By City News Service