In a distressing turn of events, two men from the Inland Empire face federal charges following the armed robbery of a San Bernardino marijuana dispensary. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Tyrie Ravon Contreras, 32, of Barstow, and Kenyon Lamonte Watson, 19, of Perris, were indicted today for the crime which involved using a firearm to intimidate and steal from the store employees.
The indictment laid out a grim scene: three masked suspects, on August 9, entered the dispensary while brandishing weapons. It is alleged that after ordering three employees to the ground, Contreras pressed the barrel of his pistol to the head of an employee lying face down, igniting fears of an execution-style shooting. The pair, along with an unidentified accomplice, are accused of making off with cannabis products and roughly $500 in cash, escaping in Watson's white BMW sports sedan, leaving behind terror in their wake.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada stated, "We must send a message of zero-tolerance for violent gun crime." He further emphasized the commitment to using federal law as "powerful tools to hold accountable those who use firearms to rob businesses" and that his office would persist in working with law enforcement partners to pursue justice in such matters. This case comes under Operation Safe Cities, an initiative focused on strategic enforcement against significant drivers of violent crime. Seeking to improve public safety, the effort targets illegal gun activities and robberies that bring upheaval to communities and businesses.
Following a home invasion and a subsequent vehicle chase that ended with a crash, Contreras was arrested two weeks after the dispensary heist. In his possession, police recovered a .40-caliber firearm and clothing that matched those seen in the surveillance footage from the day of the robbery. Contreras, who has prior felony convictions, including one for second-degree theft, was not legally allowed to have a firearm. After being arrested on September 12, Watson, who climbed into the back seat of his sedan loaded with the stolen refuge, has been ordered jailed without bond with an arraignment scheduled for October 1.
If convicted on all charges, Contreras and Watson may be sentenced to life in federal prison. While an indictment only contains allegations, both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the San Bernardino Police Department are conducting further investigations into this crime. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter H. Dahlquist of the Riverside Branch Office.
