In several cases, employees were threatened or physically assaulted
“California State Lottery employs investigators who are sworn peace officers to initiate or assist in law enforcement investigations in which the lottery is connected to crimes. We appreciate the work that they do to protect the lottery from fraud and theft, and to assist local law enforcement departments.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
LOS ANGELES — On March 25, 2026, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that three defendants have been sentenced to 13 years each in state prison for carrying out a coordinated robbery spree targeting 28 different 7-Eleven stores across Los Angeles County, stealing lottery tickets and other merchandise totaling over $200,000 in 33 separate incidents in 2024.
“These defendants carried out a coordinated, repeat robbery operation that targeted dozens of stores, put workers in grave danger, and showed a complete disregard for the law,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “Each of them will spend 13 years in state prison — a clear consequence for their repeated, brazen crimes. Seven-Eleven stores are owned often by individuals or families, who are the franchisees and who have put their life savings into owning the stores. These robberies were not from just stores, but from people and families and the workers who show up every day to serve their customers.
“As for those thinking of robbing a 7-Eleven or any business in our county, please know that you will be arrested, prosecuted and end up not with a lottery ticket but a one-way ticket to prison to serve a substantial sentence.”
- Darrick Johnson (dob 5/10/96) of Los Angeles was sentenced March 24th after pleading no contest to 11 felony counts of second-degree robbery.
- Taivyon Spells (dob 1/20/06) of Los Angeles was sentenced on February 24th. Spells pleaded no contest to 11 felony counts of second-degree robbery.
- James Guillermo Guyton (dob 7/23/96) of Los Angeles was sentenced on February 24th. Guyton pleaded no contest to five felony counts of second-degree robbery, two felony counts of grand theft and one felony count of possession of ammunition by a felon with a special allegation that the offense was committed while he was released on bail.
A bench warrant remains outstanding for co-defendant Jose Guzman Ferreyra (dob 6/22/97) of Los Angeles in case 24CJCF02438.
Between February 13 and April 11, 2024, the defendants carried out a series of coordinated robberies targeting 7-Eleven convenience stores across southern Los Angeles County. In each incident, multiple suspects entered the store, went behind the cashier’s counter and stole merchandise before fleeing. In several cases, employees were threatened or physically assaulted.
Investigators were able to track stolen California lottery tickets using unique serial numbers, linking the thefts to their redemption at various independent stores. Surveillance footage captured the defendants redeeming the stolen tickets, helping law enforcement build the case.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Sergei Shubin of the Organized Crime Division and investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department, with assistance from the California State Lottery Law Enforcement Division and the Bell Gardens, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, South Gate and Torrance police departments.
“I want to commend Deputy District Attorney Sergei Shubin and our Organized Crime Division for their relentless work in dismantling this crew and securing meaningful prison sentences,” District Attorney Hochman said. “This case reflects the tenacity and precision our prosecutors bring to protecting the public and standing up for workers who were put directly in harm’s way.”
In May 2025, District Attorney Hochman held a press conference in front of a 7-Eleven location that had been targeted by thieves 12 times to announce a new initiative aimed at curbing retail theft. As part of that effort, District Attorney Hochman unveiled a campaign distributing yellow warning decals to businesses (pictured below), alerting would-be offenders to the prosecution that awaits them if they steal from that particular store.
