Three Southern California residents were sentenced Monday to prison for their roles in a 2024 armed robbery and carjacking at a Bloomington auto repair shop, the U.S. Justice Department announced.
49-year-old Marcos Guerrero of Glendora was sentenced to 219 months in prison, or just over 18 years. 35-year-old Elijah Gafare of West Covina was sentenced to 20 years in prison. 39-year-old Cinthia Leal of Glendora was sentenced to 12 years in prison. All three defendants, who were convicted of carjacking and armed robbery, were also ordered to pay $11,980 in restitution.
The robbery happened on March 12, 2024, when Guerrero, Gafare, Leal and Vincent Solarez robbed an auto repair shop in Bloomington. Two defendants brandished firearms during the robbery and one of the defendants pistol-whipped a person “into near unconsciousness,” according to the DOJ.
During the robbery, the defendants held victims hostage and threatened to kill them if they didn’t give up cash and their car, or if they called law enforcement, prosecutors said.
According to the DOJ, the defendants stole thousands of dollars in cash from the business, as well as the victim’s car and property.
The fourth defendant in the case, Solarez, 58, of Upland, was sentenced to four years in prison on June 2. Solarez was also ordered to pay $11,980 in restitution. He was also convicted of carjacking and armed robbery.
Guerrero, Gafare and Leal were additionally found guilty of witness tampering and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of and in relation to a crime of violence; and Guerrero was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
