U.S. News
Deported Illegal Immigrant Pleads Guilty in California Crime Spree
Clear Facts
- Jesús Soto-Parada, a previously deported illegal immigrant from El Salvador, pleaded guilty to multiple armed robberies in California.
- Soto-Parada and an accomplice targeted convenience stores across eight cities and admitted to seven robberies between January and June 2024.
- A hidden GPS device helped law enforcement track and arrest Soto-Parada after a robbery at a 7-Eleven on June 13, 2024.
Authorities confirmed that Jesús Soto-Parada, 27, orchestrated a series of armed robberies at stores in both Los Angeles and Orange counties. He was apprehended after a clerk cleverly concealed a GPS tracker in stolen cash, allowing police to track his movements.
Federal prosecutors reported that Soto-Parada pleaded guilty to eight felony charges, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce and seven robberies under the Hobbs Act.
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Officials said Soto-Parada had prior run-ins with immigration authorities, being deported in 2016 and 2022 before his criminal spree.
Authorities noted that although he was deported in March 2024, he later re-entered the United States and continued committing robberies.
A second suspect, Daniel Pavon, was arrested alongside Soto-Parada at the scene of the latest crime. Police used the GPS device hidden in the $250 the suspects stole to effect a timely arrest.
During one of the robberies, Soto-Parada wore a blue surgical mask and black sweatshirt, emptying the till as Pavon threatened the clerk with a replica handgun, authorities stated in the criminal complaint.
Surveillance footage captured a masked individual holding a firearm during the June 13, 2024 heist.
In all, the suspects reportedly stole about $13,950 in cash and $7,415 in merchandise.
Sentencing is set for April 15, 2026, and Soto-Parada faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count.
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