Corona Man Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging Armed Robbery Spree Last Month That Targeted Businesses in Orange County
LOS ANGELES – A Riverside County man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging he committed eight armed robberies – and two attempted armed robberies – of businesses, mostly restaurants, during a week-long crime spree last month.
George Arizon, 27, of Corona, is charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery (in violation of the Hobbs Act) and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Arizon is expected to make his initial appearance on Thursday in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
According to an affidavit filed last Friday with the complaint, Arizon robbed three restaurants – and attempted to rob two more – in Santa Ana on November 1, stealing a total of $1,200 in cash.
During the robberies, Arizon allegedly displayed a black semi-automatic handgun, which had a gold-colored barrel, pointed the handgun at the victims, and told the restaurant employees to give him the money.
On November 8, Arizon allegedly brandished a handgun while robbing two restaurants located adjacent to each other in Garden Grove. Approximately 15 minutes after the Garden Grove robberies, Arizon allegedly again brandished a firearm and, in succession, robbed a Chinese restaurant, a Supercuts store and a 7-Eleven located on the same block in Westminster.
Police officers responding to calls about the Westminster robberies later recovered and retained a black sweatshirt, black hat, and mask that Arizon is alleged to have worn during the crimes. Officers also recovered the black semi-automatic handgun, with a gold-colored barrel, which had been discarded nearby. Security camera footage showed Arizon wearing this apparel, the affidavit states.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted of all charges, Arizon would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the Hobbs Act robbery count, and seven years in federal prison for the firearm brandishing count.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Orange County Violent Crime Task Force investigated this matter, and received assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department, the Garden Grove Police Department, and the Westminster Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.
