Federal prison terms of 12 1/2 years are recommended by the U.S. Attorney for two men who have pleaded guilty to robbing a South Bay cell phone store and nine others.
The 151-month terms are recommended in court documents for Carlos Adolfo Soto, 40, and Justin Wayne Caldwell, 31, for a robbery spree that began Jan. 25, 2017, and ended Feb. 21, 2017 at Metro PCS stores all over the county.
The pair’s robbery of a Metro PCS store at 1840 Coronado Avenue near Nestor on Feb. 1, 2017, was their fourth robbery in the series.
Robberies are normally charged in state court, but the U.S. Attorney’s office filed federal charges that alleged they interfered with interstate commerce by threats and violence. The maximum sentence for both men is 20 years.
Prosecutors said Soto would enter a store with either a machete, taser, or pellet gun that resembled a firearm and would point it at store clerks. Soto would demand cellular phones and cash. Caldwell often waited outside the store, serving as the getaway driver in a Mercedes.
Both were arrested Feb. 21, 2017 after Soto robbed the Metro PCS store in Pacific Beach at 2 p.m. while Caldwell waited outside. Police had followed them from the College area.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Whelan set sentencing for Feb. 21. Both remain in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
“After striking fear in the hearts of San Diego area store clerks, these serial robbers were apprehended and charged due to the persistent efforts of dedicated local and federal law enforcement officers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman in a statement.
“This violent spree of robberies has come to an end,” said John Brown, FBI special agent in charge in a statement.
The other stores robbed were located in Claremont, Normal Heights, San Marcos, Poway, Spring Valley, and several stores on El Cajon Boulevard.
