LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The ATF Orange County Violent Crime Task Force arrested two multi-convicted felons on Oct. 2, after the duo committed the early morning robberies of two 7-Eleven stores in Los Angeles, following a spree of no less than 20 similar robberies and attempted robberies spanning back to no later than February.

Marcus Toles, 48, of Los Angeles and Damian Brown, 35, of Los Angeles are charged with 18 USC 1951(a), interfering with commerce by robbery and 18 U.S.C. 924(c)(1)(A) using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence. Toles and Brown are both convicted felons, and Brown is currently on Los Angeles County felony probation.

Since September, the ATF OCVCTF began investigating a series of robberies of 7-Eleven convenience stores across Southern California. Typically, during these robberies, two suspects wearing ski masks, with one carrying a hydraulic rescue tool commonly used by rescue works and referred to as the "Jaws of Life," would enter the store and go directly to the ATM inside the store. One suspect controlled the clerk, while the other suspect used the "Jaws of Life" rescue tool to gain access to ATM machines and steal the money inside the machine. According to investigators, the same method was used in more than 15 other similar robberies.

In the very early morning hours of Oct. 2, the OCVCTF arrested Toles and Brown immediately after both allegedly committed back-to-back robberies of two 7-Eleven convenience stores located at 4901 Santa Monica Boulevard and 1874 South Western Avenue. During the arrest, investigators recovered the stolen cash, a rescue tool, several firearms, as well as the stolen vehicle the two used to commit the robberies.

Toles and Brown are expected to make their initial appearance today in Santa Ana. The charges are allegations only. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The ATF OCVCTF was formed to investigate violent crime, with a focus on serial robberies throughout Southern California. The ATF-led task force is comprised of personnel from the Brea Police Department, the Fullerton Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department, Newport Beach Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Erik Mackie, of the Central District of California, the Violent and Organized Crime Section, are prosecuting this case.

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