Moreno Valley Man Who Led Crew that Robbed At Least 15 AutoZone Stores Pleads Guilty to Federal Conspiracy, Firearms Charges

          RIVERSIDE, California – A Moreno Valley man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for leading a crew that committed at least 15 armed robberies of AutoZone stores in the Inland Empire, making off with a total of more than $11,000 in cash.

          Daeon Raishawn Cox, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal has scheduled an October 7 sentencing hearing, where Cox, who remains in federal custody, will face a statutory maximum sentence of 27 years and a mandatory minimum of seven years in federal prison.

          Cox admitted in his plea agreement that from September 5, 2018 until December 13, 2018, he and his co-conspirators robbed AutoZone stores at gunpoint. On December 5, 2018, Cox robbed an AutoZone store in Redlands hours after his co-conspirator scouted the store and looked for the location of its money safe, according to court documents.

          Later that same day, the same co-conspirator dropped off Cox, who was armed with an AR-style assault rifle, at the AutoZone store in Redlands, the plea agreement states. Once inside the store and while the co-conspirator waited outside as the getaway driver, Cox pointed the rifle at the AutoZone employees and forced one of them to give him approximately $1,500 belonging to the store, the plea agreement states.

          One of Cox’s co-defendants, Dashon Raymond White, 25, pleaded guilty on July 1 to conspiracy to one count of interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. White faces a statutory maximum sentence of 27 years in federal prison at his September 23 sentencing hearing.

          Cox, White and co-defendant Jada Shardae Allen, 19, were caught after an attempted robbery by Cox and White at an AutoZone on December 12, 2018 was interrupted by Fontana police, who had been conducting surveillance at an AutoZone store in that city, according to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint in the case. The suspects led police on a high-speed freeway chase that ended when they crashed and tried to run away. All three suspects were eventually apprehended by officers.

          Allen’s trial in this matter is scheduled for October 8.

          This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fontana Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the Riverside Police Department, the Hemet Police Department, the Redlands Police Department, the Moreno Valley Police Department, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.

          This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerry C. Yang of the Riverside Branch Office.