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Paramount man arrested on suspicion of robberies of pharmacies in Orange, Los Angeles counties

by in News

A 32-year-old Paramount man was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of committing several strong-armed robberies at pharmacies in Orange and Los Angeles counties, authorities said on Wednesday, March 25.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested Judge Thomas Jr. without incident Sunday, March 22, after the ATF conducted surveillance and found evidence linking him to the crimes, ATF spokeswoman Ginger Colburn said.

He has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and also robbery, Colburn said.

Thomas was suspected of conducting robberies from Feb. 12 to March 22, Colburn said. Five of the robberies occurred at Walgreens: in Fullerton, Cypress, Pico Rivera, Bellflower and Orange. The other three occurred at Rite Aids: in Buena Park, Orange and Garden Grove.

He was arrested sometime after allegedly robbing the Garden Grove store on Sunday.

Thomas is accused of entering the businesses and brandishing a gun once the clerk opened the cash register, according to an affidavit.

It was not disclosed how much cash Thomas is accused of stealing.

Detectives from Brea, Fullerton and Buena Park police departments assisted the task force.

Thomas, 32, was being held in Central Men’s Jail in Orange County without the option of bailing out, according to jail records.