CrimeJan 15, 2026
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4 Men Charged in $1.7M California Smash-and-Grab Jewelry Store Robbery
Plus, JSA’s Scott Guginsky discusses the need for jewelers to take more precautions as the gold price continues to climb.
A federal grand jury in California has indicted four of the more than two dozen masked men who robbed a California jewelry store last June after ramming a car through the storefront to gain entry.
Oakland, Calif.—Four California men have been charged in connection with the June 2025 robbery of a jewelry store in Fremont, California.
A federal grand jury indicted Afatupetaiki Faasisila, 20, of San Bruno, Jose Herrada-Aragon, 20, of Concord, Andres Palestino, 19, of Concord, and Tom Parker Donegan, 19, of Fairfield.
The Dec. 18 indictment, unsealed last week, charges each man with one count of robbery affecting interstate commerce, according to a statement shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
On June 18, 2025, the men allegedly were among the more than two dozen masked individuals who took part in a takeover-style robbery of a jewelry store located on Mowry Avenue in Fremont, according to the criminal complaint.
Surveillance video shows a gray Honda ramming into the front of the store to gain entry.
One individual pointed a gun at the store’s security guard, while another held the guard’s arms and forced him to the ground, said officials.
The masked group then rushed into the business, which was occupied at the time.
Using hammers and other tools, the group smashed the store’s display cases, grabbed the jewelry and fled in waiting vehicles.
The loss was estimated at around $1.7 million, said officials.
According to the complaint, Donegan drove one of the getaway vehicles.
Police officers pursued him, and he crashed the getaway car, a vehicle that had been reported as stolen, along the way.
The four defendants exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but officers caught up with them.
Several pieces of stolen jewelry were recovered along the route the defendants took.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of robbery affecting interstate commerce.
Anyone who has information about this case can contact the FBI at 415-553-7400 or online at Tips.FBI.gov.
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A federal grand jury indicted Afatupetaiki Faasisila, 20, of San Bruno, Jose Herrada-Aragon, 20, of Concord, Andres Palestino, 19, of Concord, and Tom Parker Donegan, 19, of Fairfield.
The Dec. 18 indictment, unsealed last week, charges each man with one count of robbery affecting interstate commerce, according to a statement shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
On June 18, 2025, the men allegedly were among the more than two dozen masked individuals who took part in a takeover-style robbery of a jewelry store located on Mowry Avenue in Fremont, according to the criminal complaint.
Surveillance video shows a gray Honda ramming into the front of the store to gain entry.
One individual pointed a gun at the store’s security guard, while another held the guard’s arms and forced him to the ground, said officials.
The masked group then rushed into the business, which was occupied at the time.
Using hammers and other tools, the group smashed the store’s display cases, grabbed the jewelry and fled in waiting vehicles.
The loss was estimated at around $1.7 million, said officials.
According to the complaint, Donegan drove one of the getaway vehicles.
Police officers pursued him, and he crashed the getaway car, a vehicle that had been reported as stolen, along the way.
The four defendants exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but officers caught up with them.
Several pieces of stolen jewelry were recovered along the route the defendants took.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of robbery affecting interstate commerce.
Anyone who has information about this case can contact the FBI at 415-553-7400 or online at Tips.FBI.gov.
The robbery was one of at least a dozen smash-and-grabs involving a vehicle that took place in California last year.
In an interview with National Jeweler on Tuesday, Jewelers’ Security Alliance Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky spoke about the ongoing smash-and-grab robberies in California and what jewelers nationwide can do to protect themselves and their businesses.
“California jewelers are on high alert,” he said, noting nine smash-and-grab robberies in the last month.
Guginsky also pointed to a recent shooting at a flea market in Stockton, California, that left three people dead.
A jeweler who was present at the flea market during the shooting told a local news station that his father was shot and killed at the same market while selling jewelry there in 2012.
While thieves aren’t using vehicles to ram into stores at the same rate seen this past summer, the trend of large groups armed with sledgehammers has continued, Guginsky said.
He urged jewelers to take extra precautions, particularly given the high price of gold, which was almost $4,900 an ounce as of press time.
While diamond jewelry and watches hold value, they’re not as easy to get rid of and cash in on as gold, he said.
Guginsky noted the recent robbery of Gustavo Oro 14K, a jewelry store in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The thieves sought out gold pieces, making off with an estimated $1.5 million worth of jewelry.
There were also two smash-and-grab robberies in Bristol and Milford, Connecticut, over the long weekend, though Guginsky said those followed a different pattern than what’s occurring in California.
“They’re targeting [stores] because of the price of gold and it’s only going to get worse. Jewelers need to change the way they operate,” he said.
He advised jewelers to hire more security guards, have buzzers on their doors, and utilize GPS tracking technology.
Jewelers also should be mindful of frequent visitors who may be casing the store and wary of phone calls asking questions about the store’s hours, employees, and security.
Virtual tours available online are also an easy way for thieves to learn more about a store’s layout.
Guginsky said jewelers should reinforce showcases with laminated glass and have fewer pieces of gold jewelry on display.
He also suggested that jewelers update their inventory lists and have an up-to-date policy with their insurance companies.
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