Two Men Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Killing Dispensary Employee

SANTA ANA, Calif.—On Friday, two men received life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole for their involvement in the robbery and murder of a marijuana dispensary employee near Santa Ana College five years ago.

John Ben Taylor, who will turn 41 on Wednesday, and Ryan Jones, also 41, were found guilty in October of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of committing murder during a robbery.

Antonio Lamont Triplett, a co-defendant, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in August 2022.

The two men were convicted for the murder of 29-year-old Osvaldo Garcia from Santa Ana on September 16, 2019.

Garcia was driving home in his Honda Accord after his shift at the TRG marijuana dispensary in South Los Angeles around 1 a.m. when a 2019 Nissan Sentra struck his vehicle, causing it to crash into a curb and “launch” into the air before landing in some hedges at the college, as explained by Senior Deputy District Attorney Anna McIntire in her opening statement.

“This collision was anything but an accident,” McIntire asserted. “This was part of a premeditated plan… The aim was robbery and murder, driven by greed.”

A “panicked” Garcia contacted his girlfriend, Carmen Munoz, during the incident, informing her that shots were being fired at him. While trying to escape from the passenger side of his vehicle, he was shot, according to McIntire.

Triplett and Taylor exited their vehicle to confront Garcia, as indicated by the prosecutor. Surveillance footage from the college showed the suspects searching through Garcia’s vehicle for several minutes.

Phone records confirmed that Jones, the driver of the Sentra, was present in the area at the time of the shooting, McIntire noted.

Although a patrol car passed by the scene, the officer failed to notice the ongoing assault and drove away. However, the presence of the patrol car alarmed one of the suspects, who fled with Garcia’s backpack filled with cash, McIntire reported.

Investigators considered cellphone evidence to be crucial in solving the case. Munoz, upon arriving at the crime scene, informed authorities that her call with Garcia was still active, allowing them to track his phone. This led them to 956 Avenida Del Vista in Corona shortly before 2 a.m.

At 2:38 a.m., Garcia’s phone was on the move again, according to the prosecutor. Investigators monitored its movement via helicopter as it traveled in a Dodge Charger to an industrial complex in Carson, McIntire stated.

Jones, along with his girlfriend Miah Mendoza, and Taylor were seen meeting Chantress Allen, Taylor’s girlfriend, to transfer items from the Charger to a GMC Yukon, according to the prosecutor.

Taylor then drove the Yukon away, while Jones and Mendoza departed in their own vehicle, she added.

The damage to the Sentra matched the crash with Garcia’s car, McIntire illustrated. Furthermore, Jones’ DNA was recovered from the steering wheel.

At 3:43 a.m., Garcia’s phone was located at 2025 Lemon St. in Long Beach, where investigators observed two men moving belongings from the Yukon into a Kia Sorento utilized by Triplett and Taylor, McIntire detailed.

DNA from Taylor was found on the victim’s phone, stated McIntire.

When officers apprehended Mendoza and Taylor, she disclosed to them that she previously worked at the marijuana dispensary and was acquainted with Garcia, McIntire affirmed. Evidence from Jones’ phone revealed that he had used a navigation app to get directions to the dispensary.

“Each of these defendants played a part in this audacious robbery and murder,” McIntire said.

Jones’ attorney, Kelly Rozek from the Associate Defender’s Office, claimed her client was an entrepreneur selling clothes in the South Bay. She stated that he had dinner with his girlfriend in Long Beach the night of the murder and that they attended a pop-up event in the town with his T-shirt manufacturer.

Rozek asserted that at some point, Mendoza and Jones parted ways, and he called her around 1 a.m. requesting a pickup.

Mendoza also mentioned receiving an unusual call from Mr. Taylor’s wife asking her to assist in moving boxes, stated Rozek. When she arrived, she noticed some “tension,” according to Rozek.

Rozek pointed out that Jones’ DNA being found on the steering wheel was normal, as he had also driven that vehicle.

A witness, who was at a nearby McDonald’s at the time of the shooting, provided a description that did not match Jones, Rozek noted. The witness described the suspect as having short hair, while Jones had long dreadlocks.

Shortly after the shooting, Taylor and his wife were texting Jones, urging him to call and indicating it was urgent, Rozek mentioned.

The defense attorney stated that Jones’ cellphone pinged to a tower 11 miles away from the crime scene, while Triplett and Taylor’s phones were recorded together.

Taylor’s attorney, Cameron Talley, contended that his client did not have knowledge of any plans to kill the victim and merely accompanied others to purchase marijuana.