A Richmond pawn shop owner has been arrested on suspicion of selling a significant amount of stolen items from the store.
A search warrant was recently served at the Oromax Pawn Shop at 649 23rd St. in Richmond in connection with an investigation into an auto burglary at a parking lot in Stockton, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
The Stockton auto burglary occurred April 1 and, with help from surveillance video, the ensuing investigation led to the arrest of Richmond resident DeShawn Leandrei Allen, who the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office called a “validated gang member.”
A search of Allen’s cellphone uncovered communication between him and Urias Joram Hernandez Ochoa, the owner of Oromax Pawn Shop.
“This communication included photographs of the items DeShawn Leandrei Allen had stolen and, in turn, was now requesting to sell these items to the Oromax Pawn Shop owner,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “This led to a search warrant being served to the Oromax Pawn Shop, where a significant amount of stolen items were found: cellular devices, laptops, cameras, and more.”
The owner was arrested and released on his own recognizance. All items have been seized and brought back to the Sheriff’s Office for processing and identification of the victims, the Sheriff’s Office said.
So far, the Sheriff’s Office has identified over 140 victims, many who were travelers to the Bay Area from as far as Brooklyn, NY.
“To date, of every single person we have contacted, not one person has claimed ever to have sold or pawned anything at the Oromax pawn shop, confirming all were victims of theft,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Allen has been charged with second degree burglary, grand theft exceeding $950, possession of burglary tools, vandalism, receiving stolen property and conspiracy, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Ochoa has been charged with conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
The Sheriff’s Office posted a Dropbox link that contains images of the seized items with the hopes that victims can search for what is believed to be theirs. Contact the Sheriff’s Office at (209) 468-4424.
