California man accused in 21 robberies at Trader Joe’s gets 21-year prison sentence

A California man was sentenced to 21 years in prison on Jan. 3 after he was accused of committing or attempting 21 armed robberies at Trader Joe’s locations in Southern California.

Gregory Johnson, 44, pleaded guilty in May to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, a news release from the Department of Justice said.

Johnson’s attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

Johnson admitted to committing armed robberies at multiple stores in several cities between Aug. 28 and Dec. 4, 2020, including in Culver City, Pasadena, Santa Ana, Irvine and Manhattan Beach, the release said.

Johnson was arrested on Dec. 4, 2020, along with his 20-year-old son, Gregory Eric Johnson. According to a criminal complaint, Johnson stole about $3,800 from a Trader Joe’s store in Chino Hills that morning. A witness saw the robber leaving and reported details about his car to police, who then apprehended the car during a traffic stop. They found that Johnson was in the car with his son, the complaint said.

Upon searching the car, police found firearms and ammunition, the complaint said. Johnson’s son told police that he had only been involved with two of the robberies, and that he drove to and from the robberies, according to the complaint.

Law enforcement had been investigating a series of robberies at Trader Joe’s locations that seemed to be linked. About $57,000 had been stolen in at least 20 armed robberies between Aug. 28 and Dec. 4, 2020, the complaint said.

Nearly all the robberies occurred within an hour of the store opening or closing, according to the complaint. Police linked Johnson to the robberies by matching the pistol he had with him and the clothes he was wearing to those seen in surveillance footage, officials said.

Prosecutors said Johnson had previously received a 12-year jail sentence after being convicted of robbing a Trader Joe’s store in 2000, according to the DOJ release.

Johnson’s son was sentenced to two years in prison in connection with the crimes, the release said. He pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery in March 2021.

This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 2:07 PM with the headline "California man accused in 21 robberies at Trader Joe’s gets 21-year prison sentence."