Cross-County Cellphone Store Robbery Ring Yields Multiple Arrests

BANNING, CA — A total of 17 suspects— ten adults and seven juveniles— were arrested this week on suspicion of committing a series of cellular phone store robberies over several months in Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.

The suspects were thought to have stolen over $500,000 in cellular phones, tablets and smartwatches, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigators. It was the arrests made after a series of thefts in Lake Elsinore and Jurupa Valley that ultimately cracked the case, according to Sgt. Jonathan Bodnar.

Multiple law enforcement agencies coordinated a large-scale investigation into the series, said Sgt. Jonathan Bodnar of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. As a result of the investigation following the March arrests, officers served multiple search warrants in Adelanto, San Bernardino and Rialto and placed ten adults and seven juveniles under arrest on suspicion of committing the crimes, Bodnar said.

The following adults were arrested during the investigation:

• Kei Kei Freeman (age 24) of San Bernardino
• Elijah Anderson (age 18) of Adelanto
• Rashaun Ramsey (age 20) of Adelanto
• Gianni Fisher (age 20) of Adelanto
• Brian Roman (age 24) of Moreno Valley
• Eddie Thompson (age 19) of Banning
• Kimonni Morgna (age 19) of San Bernardino
• Charlesha Barnett (age 23) of San Bernardino
• Kavana Rodriguez (age 20) of Riverside
• Brandon Dybdahl (age 23) of San Bernardino

The juveniles were not named, and their ages were not released.

"As additional information came to light, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office, and San Bernardino Police Department were involved in multiple arrests related to the series," Bodnar said.

"Stolen property from the robberies was recovered and returned to the owners," he said.

The investigation is ongoing, and the Jurupa Valley Station SET is asking anyone with additional information on this case to contact Deputy Morales at the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 955–2600 or Investigator Leone at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station SET by calling (951) 245–3300.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members.

Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency. Criminal activity can also be reported through the We-Tip Crime Reporting Hotline, (909) 987-5005.