3 accused of robbery spree and fatal crash

Three Southern California residents are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in three armed robberies and a car accident which killed a bystander, federal authorities announced Thursday.

Kaelenn Maea, a 26-year-old Long Beach resident, 30-year-old Carson resident Salagi Iakopo, and 23-year-old Placentia resident Mathew Salanoa were charged with armed robbery and carrying a firearm during a violent crime in a complaint filed on Wednesday.

Court documents allege that the trio committed three armed robberies in Downey, Compton and South El Monte between Sept. 22 and Sept. 29.

Authorities say that on Sept. 27 the three robbed a gas station in Compton, detached the cash register from the counter, pointed a rifle at the cashier and customers and made off with roughly $1,500 before fleeing the scene in a stolen Range Rover.

Two days later, Maea and Iakopo robbed a convenience store in El Monte, authorities said. One suspect allegedly pointed a rifle at the cashier while the other stole around $400 from the cash register before the group fled in the same stolen Range Rover.

On Oct. 9, Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies found the Range Rover, which sped away. The vehicle hit another car, killing an innocent driver. The suspects fled the scene. Deputies found clothing and personal items potentially belonging to Maea inside the vehicle.

Maea and Salanoa were caught and are expected to appear in court Thursday. Iakopo is still at large.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for the robbery, and potentially life in prison for the firearm count.