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Two Asian gang members have been arrested in connection with the brutal beating and home invasion robbery of a West Valinda man in early January. The victim was robbed of the marijuana he was growing and his valuables, pistol whipped, and left bound and gagged.

Two suspects have been arrested by L.A. sheriff's Asian gang investigators, one suspect in Fontana, and the other in Stockton, with the assistance of the Stockton Police Dept. SWAT team. Both men are being held in the Los Angeles County jail with bail set at $1.2 million each.

"These suspects left the area after their violent robbery," said Sheriff's Asian Gang Team Det. Sergeant Steve Kim. "But we will follow all leads until suspects are brought in to face the justice system."

Suspects:
Srun Ly, male Cambodian, 38.
Chanthoern Chhuon, male Cambodian, 31.

Home Invasion Robbery on January 4, 2011, at the 1300 Block of Edanruth Avenue, West Valinda.

On Tuesday, January 4, 2011, at about 1:30PM, four suspects armed with a handgun forcibly entered a home of an Asian victim in the 1300 Block of Edanruth Avenue, (unincorporated) West Valinda. The victim was operating a Marijuana grow house at the location for a legitimate Marijuana dispensary.

The suspects, who were described as two male Asian adults named "Sean" and "Ty," one male Hispanic adult, and one other male unknown, terrorized the victim by beating him with their hands and feet, and binding his hands and feet, while threatening him with the handgun. The victim was pistol whipped by one of the suspects during the incident. The suspects terrorized the victim in his own home for several hours before leaving the location.

The victim was left unconscious and bleeding on the floor of his home. The victim was not able to report the crime until a day later, when he was able to free himself and call for help.

It was apparent that the suspects knew the victim was cultivating Marijuana in his home for a legitimate dispensary. The suspects stole a cellular phone, dried Marijuana and plants, cash, lighting and filters used for cultivating Marijuana.

Working with Industry Sheriff's Station deputies, sheriff's Asian Gang Team detectives from Operation Safe Streets Bureau investigated this case.

Investigators were able to identify one of the suspects (Srun Ly) almost immediately. The investigators obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect and a search warrant for the suspect’s home in Fontana. On Wednesday, January 5, 2011, less than twelve hours after the crime was reported, Suspect Srun Ly was taken into custody by members of the sheriff's Asian Gang Team. Suspect Ly was transported to Industry Sheriff’s Station and booked for Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Investigators worked diligently to identify the other suspects involved in this crime.

Several days later, sheriff's investigators identified "Ty" as Suspect Chanthoern Chhuon. They further learned that he had fled to Stockton, California, located about 350 miles north of Los Angeles County, where he was originally from. With assistance from gang investigators from the Stockton Police Department, investigators pinpointed the whereabouts of Suspect Chhuon.

Asian Gang Team Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect and a search warrant for his hideout in Stockton. The warrant was served by the Stockton Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, on the morning of Thursday, January 13, 2011. Just prior to the search warrant, Suspect Chhuon was seen leaving the location in his vehicle. Stockton Police Officers stopped the vehicle and took him into custody. Suspect Chhuon was transported back to Los Angeles County by Asian Gang Team Investigators and booked at Industry Station for Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Asian Gang Team Investigators presented the case to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in El Monte. The District Attorney’s Office filed Robbery, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Criminal Threats for each suspects. Both suspects are facing life in prison if convicted.

The suspects are scheduled to appear in Rio Hondo Court on Wednesday, January 19, 2011. Their bail is set at $1.2 million each.

Suspect Srun Ly is a member of the "Wah Ching" Asian street gang based in the Los Angeles area and suspect Chanthoern Chhuon is a member of the "Original Bloods" Asian street gang based in Stockton.

By:
Sergeant Steve Kim
Operation Safe Streets Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
310-603-3100
www.lasd.org


Sent by:
Michael Parker, Captain
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
www.lasd.org

Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff


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