Los Angeles Man Taken Into Custody for Violent Robberies in Parking Lot

A Los Angeles man has been arrested by federal authorities on suspicion of robbing multiple victims in parking lots across Los Angeles and Orange counties during a month-long spree of armed crimes, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Dec. 5.

Oshae Pollard, 21, from south Los Angeles, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with robbery interference with commerce and the use of a firearm in a violent crime.

The robbery charge constitutes a violation of the Hobbs Act, commonly employed by federal prosecutors in cases involving alleged violent offenders and street gangs.

As per the court documents, federal prosecutors assert that between August 25 and September 22, Pollard targeted victims in parking lots through three armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada stated, “The violence alleged in this complaint shocks the conscience.”

According to federal authorities, Pollard’s first robbery occurred late at night on August 25 at the parking lot of Hustler Casino in Gardena, approximately 14 miles south of Los Angeles. He is accused of rushing towards a victim and pushing her to the ground.

During the encounter, the victim clung to her purse and screamed for help, according to federal prosecutors.

Pollard allegedly began to tug on the victim’s purse before brandishing a black semi-automatic pistol. Prosecutors claim that the defendant placed the gun in the victim’s mouth, causing her to suffer a broken tooth, and threatened, “If you yell again, I’ll kill you.”

As a bystander in the parking lot began to shout, Pollard supposedly took the victim’s purse, which contained between $1,000 and $2,000, and drove off.

In the early hours of August 26, the day after the purse incident, federal prosecutors contend that Pollard and an accomplice robbed a taxi driver while he was in his vehicle in the parking lot of a Winchell’s Donut House in Carson, roughly 18 miles south of Los Angeles.

Pollard and his accomplice allegedly struck the taxi driver in the face, entered his car, and held him at gunpoint to demand his wallet and Samsung cell phone.

Later that same day, prosecutors assert that Pollard and an accomplice approached two individuals near their Rolls-Royce and Ferrari in the Fashion Island shopping center parking lot in Newport Beach, about 32 miles south of Carson.

The duo allegedly aimed a semi-automatic pistol at one victim near the Rolls-Royce and demanded cash. The victim complied by surrendering a luxury watch, a wallet, and the car keys, according to court documents.

When the other victim started the Ferrari and tried to drive away, Pollard reportedly rushed to the driver’s side and fired a shot into the Ferrari, narrowly missing the victim. The driver then went to a nearby gas station to ask a clerk to call the police. Subsequently, investigators recovered a 9-millimeter shell casing from the scene, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In total, the robbers allegedly stole around $44,000 worth of items during these incidents.

On September 22, prosecutors allege that Pollard confronted another victim getting into his car in the parking lot of the South Coast Plaza shopping center in Costa Mesa.

Authorities claim that Pollard demanded the victim’s watch, ring, and vehicle, threatening to shoot him if he did not comply, according to court records.

When the victim hesitated to comply, Pollard allegedly shot him in the left hand, then pointed his gun at the victim’s chest, vowing, “You’re a dead man.”

Authorities further allege that Pollard shot the victim in the left thigh while the man attempted to take off his watch.

Despite being wounded, the victim managed to kick Pollard to the ground and continued to kick him for a brief period before getting back into his vehicle and driving away. Meanwhile, Pollard is said to have fled the scene in a Kia Forte. Fortunately, the victim survived the attack.

If convicted of all charges, Pollard faces a potential maximum sentence of life in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.