Four individuals from East Bay are facing charges after a federal grand jury indictment accused them of participating in an organized street gang conspiracy to commit a series of violent robberies across the Bay Area. According to U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, the group is linked to the Ghost Town gang of Oakland and carried out armed thefts amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars from local businesses.

Defendants Jakari Jenkins, Demarco Barnett, Garland Rabon, and Keanna Smith-Stewart are alleged by the superseding indictment to have engaged in a crime spree, including armed robbery, burglary, and identity theft. The accusations include a detailed plan involving stolen getaway cars, brandished firearms, and the utilization of disguises to conduct the robberies. The indictment, unsealed last Friday, points to a sinister pattern of organized crime within the Bay Area's urban tapestry.

The first of these robberies happened at a coin and stamp store in San Francisco's South of Market area, where Barnett and Jenkins, together with accomplices, made off with over $300,000 in valuables after a violent invasion. Months later, the gang, preying as customers at a San Pablo jewelry store, set the stage for another heist, looting similar amounts in jewelry, as outlined in the indictment.

The concerted effort of the gang even extended to an audacious burglary at an Audi dealership in Oakland, where a potential car purchase turned into a snare. Smith–Stewart is accused of using a fake identity to facilitate the theft of a safety deposit. And yet another heinous act unfolded on Christmas Eve at a marijuana business in Oakland, assaulting an employee and making away with cash and cannabis products.

As the U.S. Attorney's Office reported, these defendants now face several charges, including conspiracy to engage in robbery affecting interstate commerce. They could spend up to 20 years behind bars, among other penalties, if convicted. The case reflects the ongoing struggle between law enforcement and street gangs vying for control and profit through criminal enterprises within the Bay Area's urban communities.

Upcoming court dates have Jenkins and Barnett appearing before U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin in Oakland on July 15, while Rabon and Smith-Stewart are scheduled before Chief Magistrate Judge Ryu earlier today.