Salt Lake City Man Charged With Armed Robberies Of Convenience Stores In Three Cities

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal complaint filed Wednesday charges Hector Fernando De La Rosa, age 22, of Salt Lake City with brandishing a firearm during three convenience store robberies in Murray, Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake City in late January.

The complaint alleges De La Rosa brandished a firearm during a Jan. 21, 2020, robbery of a Maverik convenience store at 4800 South 530 West in Murray, a Jan. 22 robbery of a 7-Eleven at 1157 West California Avenue in Salt Lake City, and a Jan. 28, 2020, robbery of a 7-Eleven at 2700 South 420 East in South Salt Lake City.

De La Rosa is charged with three counts of robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during each of the robberies.  He is also charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition following a felony conviction.

According to the complaint, two individuals went into the Maverik in Murray and the 7- Eleven in Salt Lake City.  One of the suspects, wearing a gray Puma hoodie, has been identified as De La Rosa.  The second individual has not been identified. Cigarettes were taken from the Maverik and a firearm was brandished to get the cashier to open cash registers.  The complaint alleges the suspects told the cashier he would be shot if he did not open the cash register. The defendants stole $246 from the store.

De La Rosa and the second suspect used similar tactics in the robbery the next day at 7- Eleven in Salt Lake City, the complaint alleges.  As they approached the register, the cashier saw one suspect pull out a handgun and pull the slide back. The second suspect, De La Rosa, also pointed a handgun at the cashier.  The cashier ran to a backroom and called the police. One suspect immediately fled the store.  The suspect wearing the gray hoodie, De La Rosa, tried to grab the cash register before fleeing as well.

De La Rosa is charged with the Jan. 28 robbery at the 7-11 in South Salt Lake City.  Cigarettes and cash were stolen from the store along with the cashier’s cell phone.

Using store surveillance video, law enforcement officers were able to identify a white 1992 Toyota Camry and determined it had been stolen in West Valley City. A day later, West Valley City police officers were involved in a vehicle pursuit involving a different stolen car, the complaint alleges.  The driver crashed into several parked cars.  Officers ultimately spiked the tires, but the driver kept driving. He later left the car and fled from police officers.  He was ultimately tackled and arrested.

The suspect was identified as Hector De La Rosa.  He was wearing the same clothing worn in the South Salt Lake City robbery.  A black revolver was also located in the stolen vehicle De La Rosa had been driving just prior to his arrest.

The potential maximum penalty for each of the three robberies is 20 years in federal prison.  The potential penalty for possession of a firearm following a felony conviction is 10 years in prison.  Each count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence has a potential life sentence with a seven-year minimum mandatory sentence. Penalties imposed for each brandishing count run consecutive to any sentence imposed for the robberies.

De La Rosa is currently in state custody.  An initial appearance will be set for him.

Complaints are not findings of guilt.  Individuals charged in a complaint are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.

FBI special agents and Salt Lake City police officers are investigating the case with assistance with the West Valley City Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.