Federal prosecutors charged two men for more than a dozen armed robberies at massage parlors across Los Angeles and Orange counties on Tuesday.
The two LA County natives, 28-year-old Andy Cuellar and 27-year-old Arturo Morales, were arrested on Feb. 16. Both were charged with interference with commerce of robbery under the Hobbs Act and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. The Department of Justice defines Hobbs Act crimes as “actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce ‘in any way or degree.'”
The robbery charge carries a sentence of at least 20 years in federal prison and the firearm charge carries a life sentence.
The alleged robberies happened between Jan. 12-19 in Santa Ana, Reseda, Venice, Orange, Bellflower and Redondo Beach. Authorities believe that Cuellar is responsible for at least 50 massage parlor robberies throughout Southern California. Prosecutors claimed they robbed both the business and customers.