FCSO announces arrest of possible gang members for robbery spree

FRESNO Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno County sheriff's bureau announced arrests successful convulsive robberies from past summer.

Though the announcement came connected Wednesday, the arrests person been happening since January.

Most of the suspects are immigrants. The District Attorney and the sheriff wanted to nonstop a beardown message.

"We are besides present to clasp accountable each dirtbag, low-life criminal, and yes, I said it, dirtbag low-life criminal, that comes present and wants to instrumentality vantage of radical that are connected American soil," said Lisa Smittcamp, Fresno County DA.

On Wednesday, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office announced 5 men were arrested for 4 antithetic robberies astir Mendota and Kerman implicit the people of 2 weeks successful August 2024.

Investigators said successful 3 of the cases, vehicles were stolen and utilized successful the different equipped robberies.

One of those cars was recovered abandoned and connected fire.

"So we are talking astir individuals that airs a important information to our community," said Sheriff John Zanoni, Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

Those arrested see Anderson Vega Laya, Aaron Sojo Moreno and Yan Garcia-Heredia. All 3 are said to beryllium Venezuelan immigrants.

Helan Lopez Sanchez is from El Salvador.

The 5th suspect, Albert Hingues, was calved successful the U.S.

Investigators said the radical whitethorn person ties to a Venezuelan gang.

The probe took months, with the pack task unit calling successful SWAT to cod grounds and marque arrests.

When SWAT recovered Lopez Sanchez, the Sheriff said helium enactment up a pugnacious fight; helium barricaded himself successful a motel country successful Fresno, pointed an AR-style firearm astatine the doorway and adjacent pulled the trigger respective times.

"Thankfully, owed to the firearm malfunction, nary of the rounds successful the weapon fired," said Zanoni. "Deputies yet took Sanchez safely into custody."

The men are charged with a assortment of crimes, from robbery to evading arrest.

Smittcamp said gangs often usage intimidation to support radical from reporting crimes, and she doesn't privation anyone, including immigrants with oregon without ineligible status, to fearfulness calling Fresno instrumentality enforcement.

"Especially present successful the situation that we're surviving in, radical are frightened and they are confused," said Smittcamp. "They don't cognize what is going to happen."

"If you're a unfortunate oregon a witnesser of a crime," said Zanoni. "When our deputies amusement up successful this uniform, they are not going to inquire you what your migration presumption is. They're present to support you and they're present to assistance you."

The District Attorney was besides asked astir the suspects perchance being deported. In Fresno, she said if they're prosecuted, their sentences would beryllium served successful the U.S. After that, it's up to migration to decide.

For quality updates, travel Kate Nemarich connected Facebook, X and Instagram.