Two Southern California men were convicted for a multi-day robbery spree targeting BevMo! liquor stores.
Anthony Flores, a.k.a. “BabyGfar”, 28, and Ivin Kitu Sanford, 32, both from Los Angeles, committed a string of robberies over a 10-day span that ended in a police pursuit crash, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In May 2023, the men robbed two BevMo! stores and escaped with high-end liquor that was stored behind security glass. They also threatened employees with violence during the robberies, officials said.
The suspects would then sell the stolen liquor to buyers on Instagram.
At a Long Beach BevMo! store, Flores stole around $2,604 worth of liquor and at a Lakewood store, he escaped with around $800 worth of liquor.
Flores and Sanford also conspired to rob two additional BevMo! shops in Pasadena and West Covina, court documents said.
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Vehicles drive past a BevMo! wine and liquor store California. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images) -
Corona Extra beer and Modelo Especial beer, distributed by Constellation Brands Inc., are displayed for sale on a shelf as a customer shops at a BevMo! store in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images) -
A BevMo! wine and liquor store in Long Beach, California. (Getty Images)
On June 5, 2023, they attempted to rob a BevMo! in Canyon Country. Flores and Sanford “physically subdued a store victim-employee and attempted to steal high-end bottles of liquor,” officials said.
They fled the scene in a stolen Dodge Charger with a stolen license plate. When officers tried pulling them over, they refused to yield, leading authorities on a pursuit.
They continued speeding away as the chase continued through Los Angeles County before they crashed into a tree.
The suspects hopped out of the car and began fleeing on foot, running across six lanes of traffic on the 14 Freeway during rush hour.
Officers later found the two men hiding among bushes in a remote area.
They were taken into custody at the scene. In July 2024, after a three-day trial, they were convicted by a jury of Hobbs Act robbery. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 24.
A third suspect involved in the crime spree, Jabco Hardgraves, 27, also known as “Jacob Hardgraves,” “Baby Monster,” and “Lil Turtle,” is still pending and not currently set for trial.
“Callous disregard for the law undermines our community’s sense of safety,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “These defendants’ violent robberies and attempts to evade officers put lives at risk. Our Operation Safe Cities initiative aims to ensure that violent crimes are met with serious consequences, and today’s convictions demonstrate our steadfast commitment to that goal.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, West Covina Police Department and Long Beach Police Department.