A violent robbery at a Palm Desert jewelry store in August has led to the arrests of six men accused of carrying out a series of smash-and-grab thefts across Southern California, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
On Aug. 9, around 2:15 p.m., deputies responded to reports of a robbery at a jewelry store on the 72800 block of Highway 111. Witnesses told investigators that four masked individuals burst into the shop with hammers, smashed display cases and stole more than $87,000 worth of jewelry before escaping.
Detectives later discovered that the Palm Desert heist was part of a larger pattern. Since May, at least 12 similar robberies have targeted stores in the same chain across Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, investigators said.
After weeks of investigation, authorities identified six suspects: Ryan Hawes, 35, of Los Angeles; J’Quan Brasher, 27, of Lancaster; Khalil Tanner, 24, of Rosamond; Keyon Hampton, 20, of Lancaster; Jamail Wilson, 24, of Los Angeles; and George Diamond, 41, of Lancaster. Wilson and Tanner were also linked to other commercial burglaries in Los Angeles County, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
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Six men have been arrested in connection with a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting jewelry stores across multiple Southern California counties, following a months-long investigation by local and state law enforcement. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Office) -
Ryan Hawes, 35, of Los Angeles. Six men have been arrested in connection with a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting jewelry stores across multiple Southern California counties, following a months-long investigation by local and state law enforcement. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Office) -
J’Quan Brasher, 27, of Lancaster. Six men have been arrested in connection with a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting jewelry stores across multiple Southern California counties, following a months-long investigation by local and state law enforcement. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Office) -
Khalil Tanner, 24, of Rosamond. Six men have been arrested in connection with a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting jewelry stores across multiple Southern California counties, following a months-long investigation by local and state law enforcement. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Office) -
Keyon Hampton, 20, of Lancaster. Six men have been arrested in connection with a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting jewelry stores across multiple Southern California counties, following a months-long investigation by local and state law enforcement. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Office) -
George Diamond, 41, of Lancaster. Six men have been arrested in connection with a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting jewelry stores across multiple Southern California counties, following a months-long investigation by local and state law enforcement. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Office) -
Jamail Wilson, 24, of Los Angeles. Six men have been arrested in connection with a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting jewelry stores across multiple Southern California counties, following a months-long investigation by local and state law enforcement. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Office)
A series of coordinated operations in September led to their arrests. Tanner and Brasher were taken into custody on Sept. 11 in Lancaster, Hampton on Sept. 16 in Lancaster, Wilson on Sept. 18 in Los Angeles, and Diamond on Sept. 23 in Lancaster. Investigators later learned Hawes was already in federal custody on an unrelated case.
All six men were booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on charges that include robbery, vandalism during a felony, grand theft, burglary, committing a theft with prior convictions and conspiracy, officials said.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy Sanchez at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600.