“Stolen Valor bandits” sentenced

Last year, we talked briefly about the crooks that police called the “Stolen Valor bandits” because they wore Marine Corps uniforms while they robbed local San Diego businesses. They pleaded guilty last November and they were sentenced this week, according to Fox5;

David Magana, 28, pleaded guilty last year to 11 counts of robbery, conspiracy, auto theft and personal use of a firearm and was sentenced to 22 years behind bars.

Joseph Olmos, 25, pleaded guilty to eight robbery charges, conspiracy, auto theft and evading police and received 16 years in prison.

Judge Kathleen Lewis really whacked them good.

The robbery spree — dubbed the “Stolen Valor” bandit series because of the military gear worn in at least one of the holdups — happened between January and March 2016 at five establishments, including BBB Shoes in National City, Sombrero’s on West Main Street in El Cajon and Jamba Juice on College Grove Way. In two other robberies, the thieves got away with more than $800 and a person’s wallet, authorities said. In the March 3, 2016, robbery at Sombrero’s, one of the robbers fired a shot as the criminals made their getaway, Koerber said.

Magana was living in his car at the time of his arrest, so he was probably on someone’s list of homeless veterans.

Category: Crime