Jesús Soto-Parada, a 27-year-old from El Salvador, pleaded guilty to a series of armed robberies targeting convenience stores in California, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Soto-Parada was arrested on June 13, 2024, while fleeing a robbery at a 7-Eleven in Los Angeles, where a clerk had placed a hidden GPS device in the stolen cash.

Over a five-month period, Soto-Parada and an accomplice allegedly committed robberies across eight cities, with Soto-Parada admitting to seven of the charged cases in Los Angeles and Orange counties from January to June 2024. He pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and seven counts of robbery under the Hobbs Act, which criminalizes robbery or extortion that affects commerce.

Soto-Parada had prior immigration violations, having been arrested by federal authorities in 2016 and 2022. Following his arrest during the robbery spree in March 2024, he was deported to El Salvador but later returned to the United States, where he continued his criminal activities.

The total amount stolen by Soto-Parada and his accomplice is reported to be approximately $13,950 in cash and $7,415 in merchandise. Sentencing for Soto-Parada is scheduled for April 15, 2026, where he could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count.