BEVERLY HILLS—The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office revealed on Wednesday, November 28 that a group of alleged gang members and associates were charged for their roles in a multi-city burglary ring targeting the homes of celebrities.
The criminal complaint lists 33 felony counts, including criminal street gang conspiracy; first-degree residential burglary; first-degree residential robbery; first-degree burglary, person present; home-invasion robbery; second-degree commercial burglary; and elder or dependent adult abuse, infliction of injury. The charges include gang and gun allegations.
From October 2017 through October 2018, the defendants allegedly committed burglaries and home-invasion robberies at residential and commercial properties in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Arcadia, Pasadena, Temple City, Monterey Park, Walnut, Studio City, North Hollywood, Encino, Tarzana, Toluca Lake and Woodland Hills.
The homes targeted included professional baseball player Yasiel Puig, professional football player Robert Woods, singer Rihanna, rapper Chief Keef, singer Matthieu Tota and film and television producer Daniel Fogelman. Other celebrities whose homes targeted during the time span included John Mayer, Wiz Khalifa, Alanis Morisette, Post Malone, David Spade, Emmy Rossum, Kendell Jenner, Derek Fisher, Jamie Pressley and Nicki Minaj to name a few.
The LAPD indicated during a press conference in October that the suspects had a list of celebrity homes they were planning to target including actress Viola Davis, actor Matt Damon and NBA star LeBron James. The suspects utilized social media to target celebrity homes. Over 24 homes were burglarized by the suspects during the crime spree, where they had the addresses to the homes of their targets.
LAPD Captain Lillian Carranza stated during the press conference, “During recent months, the Los Angeles Police Department has become aware of a series of residential burglaries targeting actors, producers, musicians and professional athletes living in the Los Angeles area.” Authorities were able to identify some of the stolen property taken from NFL star Robert Woods’ home.
Two search warrants were served at the suspect’s residence, shortly after the arrest and additional locations, where more than $50,000 in cash was recovered. Watches, jewelry, designer purses and other luxury items, in addition to a stolen vehicle and firearm were also recovered. The LAPD recovered over $1 million in stolen items. Singer/actress Christina Milian was also targeted during the ring. Puig’s home has been broken into four times since March 2017.
The defendants charged in the case include: Hassan Deontre Murphy, 19; Jshawne Lamon Daniels, 20; Damaji Corey Hall, 19; Tyress Williams, 19; Joseph Holley, 22; Lance Williams, 18; Devin Garner, 24; Ron Simmons, 20; Donnie Faizon, 21 and Elan Lamberto Gabourel, 25.
Murphy, Daniels, Hall, Tyress Williams, Holley, Lance Williams, Garner, Simmons and Faizon all pleaded not guilty. A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11 in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Case BA472671 was filed for arrest warrant on Nov. 7.
The case is still under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division, with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Torrance, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Arcadia police departments.
