Salinas gang member sentenced to eight years in prison for multiple bank robberies
A Salinas gang member was sentenced to eight years in prison for robbing and conspiring to rob five banks in Monterey County and the Bay Area.
According to court documents, 32-year-old Jorge Lopez, aka “Cowboy,” was a registered gang member and pleaded guilty to a bank robbery on December 18, 2017. According to the plea agreement, Lopez also admitted to robbing Bay Area banks on five occasions between November of 2011 and March of 2012.
“This office is fully committed to the Salinas community to stop criminals and dismantle gangs wreaking havoc in and around the area,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tse. “Today’s sentence sends the clear message that we will work hard to bring these gangs to justice.”
“The FBI is committed to combating the threat of gang violence that plagues the community of Salinas,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Bennett. “Today’s sentencing highlights our continued work with our state and local partners to identify and investigate those who engage in gang related crimes in order to ensure the safety of our citizens.”
Lopez admitted he and others robbed a bank in Pacific Grove on November 9, 2011. He admitted to brandishing a firearm during the robbery and used it to threaten and intimidate the bank employees. Lopez and his accomplices stole about $18,383 from the bank.
On December 2, 2011, Lopez and others robbed a bank in Seaside. More than $12,000 was taken from that bank.
On January 5, 2012, Lopez and his accomplices stole $16,000 from a bank in San Jose.
Lopez and other robbers also took $6,313 from a bank in Salinas on January 19, 2012.
Finally, on March 20, 2012, Lopez and other robbers took $20,000 from a bank in San Jose.
On December 11, 2017, Lopez was charged with superseding information with one count of conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, one count of armed bank robbery, and one count of use or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Lopez pleaded guilty to all counts.
On January 5, 2018, Lopez’s co-defendant Francisco Javier Marmolejo, aka “Blindy,” pleaded guilty to the same charges. Marmolejo was sentenced to more than nine years in prison.
Lopez was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $52,854 and to serve five years of supervised release to begin after his prison term.
Lopez is currently in state custody serving a 16-year prison sentence. Upon his release from state custody around August 25, 2027, Lopez will have about 84 months remaining on his federal sentence.
