By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan and San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl announced on Wednesday that nine defendants have been charged in connection with a series of 30 burglaries in San Diego, following an extensive investigation.
The investigation uncovered approximately 55 residential burglaries committed in both California and Nevada, with victims in San Diego County alone facing a total loss of at least $700,000.
The defendants primarily targeted homes in the Mira Mesa neighborhood from February to May of this year. Their arrests last week were part of a multi-agency operation conducted across Los Angeles and Riverside County. This week, the defendants are being arraigned in San Diego Superior Court.
“Stopping this prolific burglary crew took incredible coordination among law enforcement in several jurisdictions and from many different agencies,” stated DA Stephan. “This prosecution sends a strong message that if criminals come to San Diego County to steal from our residents, we will track them down and hold them accountable.”
Each defendant faces charges ranging from three to 24 counts of first-degree residential burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. Conviction of all counts could result in sentences ranging from eight years, eight months to 35 years-to-life in state prison, depending on their level of involvement and criminal history.
“Our homes are the places where we should feel safe, but these criminals took advantage of our communities to carry out their crimes,” said San Diego Police Deputy Chief Paul Connelly. “This joint investigation required great collaboration and coordination to put a stop to a burglary series spanning two states. San Diego residents can rest assured their homes are safer because of the excellent investigative work by the San Diego Police Department and our law enforcement partners.”
Nearly 100 law enforcement officers collaborated closely with the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to conduct surveillance, serve search warrants, and make arrests. The operation resulted in the recovery of eleven firearms and large amounts of cash. The burglaries were carried out by two separate groups that shared a common co-conspirator, with the defendants residing in Riverside and Los Angeles counties. In addition to San Diego County, the thieves also committed burglaries in Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange counties.
The burglary crews, often groups of at least three people, used masks and gloves, breaking out rear sliding glass windows to take as many items of value as possible before fleeing the scene. Many of the burglaries were essentially mini crime-sprees, occurring back-to-back on the same day.
The defendants charged in the case are Amaya Armstead, 24; Timmon Betts, 23; Gregory Davis III, 19; Daniel Esquivel, 22; Tyrell Haley, 24; Nakia McBath Jr., 22; Khaliq Thomas, 22; Noel Torres, 23; and Keshaun Watson,18.
