L.A. Armed Robbery Crew Hit With Federal Charges After Posting Cash Haul on Instagram

Four defendants from Los Angeles County who allegedly took part in a series of armed heists targeting small businesses — mostly 7-Eleven stores in South Los Angeles — were hit with a federal indictment. The nearly two-month crime spree took place late last year, after which they posted photographs on Instagram of themselves holding stolen cash.

The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday and charges the suspected robbers with nine counts including conspiracy to interference with commerce by robbery. The defendants were identified as Charles Christopher, 24, of Compton; D’Angelo Spencer, 26, of South L.A.; Jordan Leonard, 25, of Torrance; and Tazjar Rouse, 22, of Hollywood.

“Violent gun crime leaves lasting emotional and psychological scars for victims,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Anyone thinking that violent robberies are a good way to make money should take note that there will be consequences for your actions.”

According to the indictment, the charged defendants "committed a series of armed robberies, mostly of 7-Eleven stores in South Los Angeles” from November 4, 2023, to December 24, 2023. The robbers followed a pattern of driving to targeted locations in a BMW where they then "jumped over the counters, took money from the stores’ cash registers, and placed the money into a black Nike bag," federal prosecutors say. "One of the defendants — usually either Christopher or Leonard — allegedly pointed a firearm at a store employee or customer and demand either their cellphone or their wallet."

On November 28, 2023, following the robbery of a 7-Eleven store in South Los Angeles earlier that day, Leonard shared a photograph on Instagram of stacks of cash, captioning his post: “love my bros we go hit every time,” and tagging the Instagram accounts of Christopher and Spencer, the indictment alleges.

In total, the defendants allegedly netted approximately $7,617 in cash during the crime spree, prosecutors say.