SAN DIEGO, California — Brandon Ivan Padilla, a 20-year-old from San Marcos, pleaded guilty in federal court to three carjackings and a business robbery, all involving the use of a firearm.
Padilla admitted to a series of crimes beginning on November 21, 2024, when he pointed a gun at a clerk at American Smoke Shop in Escondido, demanding and receiving $320 in cash. He also forced a customer to hand over car keys and cash, driving away in the customer’s vehicle, according to a press release from the Escondido Police Department.
A few days later, on November 25, 2024, Padilla committed another carjacking in Escondido. He approached a victim, brandished a firearm, and demanded the victim’s belongings, including a phone and car keys. Although the car did not start, Padilla continued his spree by carjacking another vehicle the same day. He threatened a motorist by pointing a gun at the individual’s forehead and chest, forcing the victim out of the truck and taking the vehicle along with the victim’s wallet…