A Gardena man has been indicted on federal criminal charges alleging he committed a five-day armed robbery spree of nearly a dozen Los Angeles-area businesses, including four donut shops and the attempted robbery of a veterinarian’s office.
Justin Washington, 32, has been indicted on 14 federal charges, including 11 counts of robbery and three counts of using a firearm during a violent crime. He is accused of robbing and attempting to rob 10 businesses in a period between November 30 and December 4, 2020.
Washington allegedly robbed a grocery store in Gardena on Nov. 30, 2020 and then allegedly went back the next day and robbed the same store again.
Over the next three days, Washington allegedly robbed a 7-Eleven store, a donut shop and attempted to rob a veterinarian’s office. He allegedly then went on to rob a donut shop in Torrance, and, in South Los Angeles, a wireless phone store, a dry cleaner business, two additional donut shops and a Baskin-Robbins ice cream store.
During the robberies, Washington allegedly held the stores’ employees against their will, at times at gunpoint. He allegedly stole approximately $5,679 due the spree.
Washington is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for the robbery charges and up to life in federal prison for the firearms charges.
According to federal authorities, Washington’s arraignment is expected in the coming weeks. He is currently in custody on separate state charges.