Pleasant Hill Tobacco Truck Robbers Charged With Multiple Crimes: DA

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA—Four members of a criminal street gang are accused of robbing a tobacco delivery truck in March in Pleasant Hill.

They were among 11 members of an Antioch-Pittsburg criminal street gang charged late last week with conspiracy, grand theft, second-degree robbery and multiple other offenses related to the theft of millions of dollars in merchandise, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said Friday.

A 33-count complaint was filed Thursday in Contra Costa Superior Court alleging that between September 2024 and April 2, the gang members worked together to steal merchandise from Sunglass Hut locations in Concord, Walnut Creek, San Ramon and Brentwood. They are also believed to be responsible for armed robberies of tobacco delivery trucks in Pleasant Hill, Bay Point and Pittsburg, as well as thefts from Chanel, Nordstrom and Alo Yoga in Walnut Creek, the DA's Office said.

Prosecutors identified one of the gang members as Robert Crawford, alleging that on March 27, Crawford and three others stole crates of tobacco products from a 7-Eleven in Pleasant Hill. Crawford left the scene in a car and evaded police until he lost control of the car and crashed through a fence at Fremont Elementary School in Antioch, the DA's Office said.

Crawford and his fellow alleged culprits fled the scene of the crash, but not for long. All four were detained that same day.

In addition to the allegations involving retailers in Contra Costa County, authorities believe members of the gang were involved in numerous retail thefts, robberies, stolen cars and frequent, dangerous police pursuits throughout the Bay Area.

The felony charges come with enhancements of street terrorism, taking property in concert, and taking property with a value greater than $50,000.

As of Friday, eight of the 11 defendants were in Contra Costa County jail awaiting arraignment. Their combined bail was nearly $22 million.

The DA's Office provided a list of the defendants:

• Robert Crawford, 20
• Elijah J’cole Dodson, 20
• Davin Flores, 23
• Robert Samule Garcia-Scrape, 19
• Terrel Lionel Greene, 19
• Rakell Tyriq Mack, 22
• Jailen Emani Scales, 21
• Marcelus Antonio Morre-Toliver
• Clarence David James
• Dejia Marielacqua Bartholomew
• Dionntae Lee Scales, Jr.

The investigation was conducted by the Contra Costa County Major Crimes Task Force, a collaborative effort led by the District Attorney’s Office that involves the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, County Probation, and the Concord, Hercules, San Pablo and Walnut Creek police departments. This investigation also involved the Antioch, Brentwood, Pittsburg and San Ramon police departments, whose members played key roles by developing the case that led to this prosecution.

"Organized retail theft incidents require an organized law enforcement response," Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said. "Our Major Crimes Task Force, under my office's direction, enables this by coordinating resources to investigate these offenses, ensure accountability for those involved, and safeguard the overall well-being and safety of our communities."