Six men have been arrested in connection with a violent smash-and-grab robbery at a Palm Desert jewelry store in August, which was part of a series of similar thefts across Southern California, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials announced.
On August 9th, deputies responded to a robbery at a jewelry store on Highway 111 in Palm Desert. Witnesses reported that four masked suspects smashed display cases with hammers and stole more than $87,000 worth of jewelry before fleeing the scene.
Further investigation revealed this heist was one of at least 12 similar robberies targeting stores of the same chain in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties since May.
After an extensive investigation, authorities identified six suspects involved: Ryan Hawes, 35, of Los Angeles; J’Quan Brasher, 27, of Lancaster; Khalil Tanner, 24, of Rosamond; Keyon Hampton, 20, of Lancaster; Jamail Wilson, 24, of Los Angeles; and George Diamond, 41, of Lancaster. Tanner and Wilson were also linked to other commercial burglaries in Los Angeles County.
A coordinated series of arrests took place in September. Tanner and Brasher were arrested on September 11 in Lancaster, Hampton on September 16 in Lancaster, Wilson on September 18 in Los Angeles, and Diamond on September 23 in Lancaster. Hawes was already in federal custody for an unrelated matter.
All six suspects were booked at John Benoit Detention Center, facing charges including robbery, felony vandalism, grand theft, burglary, committing theft with prior convictions, and conspiracy.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the string of robberies.
