Man Admits To Robbing, Terrorizing Orange County Trader Joe's Often At Gunpoint Sentenced

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The father who admitted to robbing more than 12 Orange County and Los Angeles County Trader Joe's markets at gunpoint was sentenced this morning to 21 years (252 months) in federal prison.

Gregory Johnson, 44 of Huntington Park, was sentenced by United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips for the robberies in which Johnson used a semi-automatic handgun to terrorize store employees and customers, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. He also pleaded guilty in May also admitted that he enlisted his son as the getaway driver in two of the heists. Johnson's charges include interference of commerce by robbery and using a firearm in a crime of violence.

"The violent, terroristic nature of [Johnson's] criminal conduct cannot be overstated," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. "He repeatedly brandished and used a firearm to control and instill fear in innocent civilians. These crimes terrorized the businesses' employees and customers. These crimes have a lasting impact of emotional trauma on the victims."

Prosecutors said that Johnson had a "serious and violent criminal history," including a prior armed robbery conviction in 2000 for robbing a Trader Joe's store that resulted in a 12-year sentence. Johnson was on probation in several other cases when he committed Trader Joe's armed robbery spree.

Johnson's four-month crime spree started in August 2020, he robbed Trader Joe's stores in Brea, Santa Ana, Tustin and Chino Hills, as well as the Los Angeles County cities of Eagle Rock, Sherman Oaks, Chatsworth, Pasadena, Culver City, Rancho Palos Verdes, Agoura Hills. He attempted to rob locations in Simi Valley and Corona.

During many of the robberies, Johnson brandished a handgun. On two occasions, he robbed stores in Rancho Palos Verdes and Brea, and returned weeks later to rob them again.

Johnson and his 21-year-old son, Gregory E. Johnson, were both arrested following the Chino Hills robbery on Dec. 4, 2020, after a witness gave authorities a description of their getaway vehicle and license plate.

The younger Johnson pleaded guilty to driving the getaway car in the Chino Hills and Chatsworth robberies and was sentenced last month in Los Angeles federal court to two years behind bars.