A man deported previously has confessed to a series of armed robberies targeting convenience stores across California, as revealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California on Tuesday. The suspect, Jesús Soto-Parada, 27, originally from El Salvador, has been implicated in numerous thefts over the past year.

Soto-Parada was taken into custody on June 13, 2024, after a robbery at a 7-Eleven near Los Angeles. His capture was facilitated by a savvy clerk who discreetly slipped a GPS tracker into the stolen cash, enabling authorities to track his escape. Together with an accomplice, Soto-Parada allegedly conducted a spate of robberies across eight cities within a five-month period, according to the Department of Justice.

Although investigators suspect him in 11 different theft incidents, Soto-Parada has admitted guilt in seven of those cases occurring between January and June 2024 in Los Angeles and Orange counties. His legal troubles intensified as he pleaded guilty to eight felony charges. These include one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and seven counts of robbery under the Hobbs Act, which criminalizes robbery or extortion that impacts commerce.

In one of the incidents, a suspect wearing a black hoodie attempted to rob Monroe Liquor on January 11, 2024, showcasing the brazen nature of these crimes, as noted by the Department of Justice.

Suspect in black hoodie attempted to rob Monroe Liquor on Jan. 11, 2024. (DOJ)

Soto-Parada also had multiple prior immigration violations before his robbery spree, including arrests by federal authorities in 2016 and 2022, according to federal prosecutors.

Authorities said that during his robbery spree in March 2024, Soto-Parada was arrested and subsequently deported to El Salvador the following month. He later returned to the United States and reportedly continued to commit robberies.

A second man in black hoodie was caught on surveillance footage holding a firearm during an attempted robbery at Monroe Liquor on Jan. 11, 2024. (DOJ)

Police were able to apprehend Soto-Parada and his accomplice, Daniel Pavon, during their most recent robbery at a 7-Eleven on June 13, thanks to a hidden GPS device the clerk had placed in the $250 they stole, which allowed officers to track their movements.

During the robbery, Soto-Parada, wearing a blue surgical mask and black sweatshirt, emptied the register while Pavon aimed a black replica handgun at the clerk, according to a criminal complaint.

A male suspect in a face mask and black hoodie appears to hold a firearm during a 7-Eleven robbery on June 13, 2024. (DOJ)

In total, the suspects stole around $13,950 in cash and $7,415 in merchandise.

Sentencing for Soto-Parada is scheduled for April 15, 2026. He could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count, prosecutors said.