Robbers from Plantanillos Grocery Indicted By Federal Grand Jury

Five men from Maryland, Woodbridge and Washington, D.C. have been indicted by a federal grand jury after a series of armed robberies involving Latino small businesses.

In a greater twist, the men are also charged with armed robbery of a Wachovia Bank branch in Horsham, PA in addition to the small businesses.

. Men fled the store with an undisclosed amount of money and around $100,000 in jewelry and got into a vehicle.  

The manager of the store then got in his car to chase the masked men when he was shot at. The getaway car was discovered by Virginia State Police abandoned  near Interstate 95 and Gordon Boulevard. Inside the car were a handgun and some jewelry.

Prince William County police named Washington, D.C. resident Jesus Garcia-Guinea as a suspect and released his identity the same day as the police report. 

Garcia-Guinea is one of the five men that was arrested for these incidents. He is charged with conspiracy, robbery, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Other men arrested in the indictment include:

• Edgar Geovani Zuniga-Perez, a.k.a. “Edgar Geovani Suniga-Perez” and “Edgar Geovani Perez-Suniga,” 30, of Woodbridge, VA, who is charged with conspiracy, multiple counts of robbery and use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and also with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
• Vahelo Alay Escobar, 21, of Riverdale, MD, who is charged with conspiracy, robbery, and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Serfido Trinidad Perez Florian, 41, of Riverdale, MD, who is charged with conspiracy, robbery, and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Estanislao Ramos Perez, 28, of Riverdale, MD, who is charged with conspiracy.

According to the indictment and other court records, the five men are accused of participating in a conspiracy that targeted at least six businesses and stole approximately $238,000 in cash and jewelry from August 2010 through February 2011. At each location, conspirators allegedly carried handguns, either brandished a firearm or put a handgun at employees’ heads, and demanded money and other valuables.

The announcement of arrests was made in late May by the combined efforts of Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Charlie T. Deane, Prince William County Chief of Police; and Colonel David Rohrer, Fairfax County Chief of Police.