Robbery-Spree Crew That Hit Hollywood CVS Arrested After Instagram Bragging: DOJ

LOS ANGELES, CA —Four men were arrested Tuesday on federal charges connected to a two-month armed robbery spree of mostly 7-Eleven stores in Los Angeles after one of the men posted a photo on Instagram of himself holding stolen cash, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Charles Christopher, 24, of Compton; D'Angelo Spencer, 26, of South Los Angeles; Jordan Leonard, 25, of Torrance; and Tazjar Rouse, 22, of Hollywood, face charges of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and interference with commerce by robbery, known as a federal Hobbs Act crime, as well as other Hobbs Act robbery counts and a count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to prosecutors.

Christopher and Leonard were arraigned Tuesday in Los Angeles federal court and ordered to remain jailed without bond. Rouse made his initial appearance Tuesday in federal court in Kansas City, Missouri. Spencer is expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"Violent gun crime leaves lasting emotional and psychological scars for victims," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. "Anyone thinking that violent robberies are a good way to make money should take note that there will be consequences for your actions."

The men are accused of committing a series of armed robberies last winter of 7-Eleven stores in South Los Angeles and at a CVS in Hollywood. They traveled to the stores in a BMW, jumped over the counter, took money from the cash registers and placed the money in a black bag, prosecutors said.

One of the men — usually Christopher or Leonard — would point a firearm at a store employee or customer and demand either the cellphone or wallet, prosecutors said.

Following the Nov. 28 robbery of a 7-Eleven, Leonard is accused of positing a photo on Instagram with stacks of cash along with the caption "love my bros we go hit every time." He also tagged the Instagram accounts of Christopher and Spencer, prosecutors said.

The men netted about $7,617 in cash during the crime spree, prosecutors said.

If convicted, the men would face up to 20 years in federal prison for each Hobbs Act-related count. Each firearm count comes with a sentence of between seven years and life imprisonment, prosecutors said.