The California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control is assisting with this investigation
“This case is an example of local, state and federal law enforcement officers working together to identify and arrest people suspected of ambushing winning gamblers after leaving casinos. Suspects in these types of crimes put our public safety at risk.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
LOS ANGELES – On May 9, 2025, a federal indictment, charging two South Gate men for allegedly committing more than a dozen armed robberies and stealing gambling winnings from individuals leaving local casinos, was unsealed.
Charged are Juan Gabriel Gonzalez, 22, and Dereck Nathan Lopez, 21.
Both defendants are charged with multiple counts of interference and attempted interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act conspiracy, and multiple counts of using firearms during a crime of violence. Lopez is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to the 10-count indictment, Lopez and Gonzalez entered local casinos under false names to hunt gamblers appearing to win or cash-in a large number of chips. Lopez, Gonzalez and other co-conspirators then followed the victims’ vehicles from the casino, ambushed them on the highway, brandished firearms, smashed vehicles windows, demanded money or chips, and fled. Lopez, Gonzalez, and other conspirators allegedly robbed and attempted to rob individuals leaving casinos in this manner on at least 15 different occasions, including three on a single night.
Before one incident, Lopez is seen on casino surveillance video celebrating a gambling victory with a victim he was allegedly scouting, including high-fiving the victim after the win, according to court documents. Within an hour, Lopez’s co-conspirators had allegedly blocked in the victim’s vehicle, brandished firearms, and stolen $21,000 in cash. In a separate incident, Lopez, Gonzalez and their co-conspirators allegedly stole at least $130,000 in casino winnings.
Lopez is also charged with being a felon in possession of three firearms and over 30 rounds of ammunition found at his home in December 2023. Lopez is not legally permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition because his criminal history includes a conviction in San Bernardino Superior Court for grand theft in November 2023 during the pendency of the indicted robbery spree.
If convicted of all charges, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
The FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control, and the Montebello Police Department are investigating this matter.
