Pair Sentenced For 5 East Bay Armed Robberies

EAST BAY, CA — A man and woman who committed a string of armed robberies in three East Bay cities in October 2017 has been sentenced to state prison, according to Fremont Police. Anthony Smith has been sentenced to sentenced to 17 years, while Mary Fajardo has been sentenced to two years.

Smith was sentenced last Friday and, at last word, is being held at Santa Rita Jail awaiting transfer to prison. Fajardo was sentenced in January 2019, and has since been paroled.

Police say the pair committed these robberies:

• Oakland: On October 25, 2017, Smith robbed a 7 Eleven store, located on International Blvd in Oakland at gunpoint. Smith produced a firearm, pointed it at two victim clerks and demanded money. During the robbery, Smith fired a shot in the direction of employees (no one was injured). A 9mm shell casing was recovered. Smith fled in a red vehicle. Video surveillance from the incident was captured.
• San Leandro: On October 27, 2017, Smith robbed a Metro PCS store, located in the 14000 block of East 14th St in San Leandro at gunpoint. As the store was closing, Smith entered the store, brandished a firearm and demanded money from the register. The victim clerk gave money to Smith and he fled the store. Video surveillance from the incident was captured.
• Fremont: On October 28, 2017, Smith car-jacked a vehicle at gunpoint from two victims who had been using the Bank of America ATM, located in the 39300 block of Fremont Blvd in Fremont. Smith approached the victims, pointed a firearm at them and demanded they throw their cash and keys on the ground. Smith fled in victim’s vehicle and was followed out by Fajardo, who was driving a red vehicle. Video surveillance from the incident was captured.
• San Leandro: On October 30, 2017, Smith robbed Anne's Nail salon, located on E 14th St. in San Leandro at gunpoint. Smith entered the store, pointed a firearm at the multiple patrons inside and demanded money. At the time of the robbery, several customers were present having their nails done. Smith fired one shot from the handgun into the back-wall area of the salon (no one hit or injured). One of the victim clerks immediately ran to the register and handed money to Smith. Smith demanded more money but the victim stated she had no more. Smith then left the store. Video surveillance of the robbery/shooting was captured showing Smith commit the robbery and firing a shot during the robbery. A 9mm shell casing was recovered from the scene, matching the 7-Eleven robbery in Oakland.
• Oakland: On October 30, 2017, approximately five hours after the Anne’s Nail salon robbery, Smith robbed the Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream store, located on Broadway Ave in Oakland. Smith pointed a black handgun at the victim clerk and demanded money from the register. Video surveillance from the incident was captured.

Detectives from the Oakland, San Leandro and Fremont police departments worked together to solve the case. Fremont Police said in a release, "The detectives' quick actions and teamwork resulted not only the safe arrest of the duo but also to the securing of crucial evidence tying the suspects to the series of violent crimes."

Smith and Fajardo were arrested in Vallejo on Nov. 1, 2017. Police recovered the stolen red vehicle that was used during the robberies, and a 9 mm handgun.

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