Man attempted 23 robberies at Bay Area convenience stores

A Union City man pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to robbing or trying to rob nearly two dozen Bay Area gas stations and convenience stores during a seven-month stretch in 2020, authorities said.

Nelson Enrike Ramirez, 41, admitted to two counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds of the Northern District of California. He will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar in Oakland on Aug. 19.

In his plea, authorities said Ramirez admitted that he attempted 23 robberies of gas stations and small convenience stores from May to December 2020.

Ramirez hit stores in Fremont, Newark, Hayward, Union City, Campbell, Milpitas, Mountain View, Los Altos and Sunnyvale. Authorities said he used a black rubber replica semiautomatic gun and often apologized to the employees afterward.

He admitted in the plea agreement to demanding cash and telling employees that he had a sick child at home even though he did not have such a child, authorities said.

A federal complaint charged Ramirez with a Nov. 6, 2020, robbery of a store on Washington Boulevard in Fremont and also alleged his involvement in 22 other robberies. He also was charged with a Nov. 3 robbery of a 7-Eleven on West Sunnyoaks Avenue in Campbell.

In the second of the two, authorities said Ramirez told the clerk inside the Fremont 7-Eleven that he needed a soda. Authorities said that as the clerk approached to help, Ramirez pulled out the replica gun and told the clerk he needed money.

He then ordered the clerk to the cash register and made off with $200, authorities said. He ordered the clerk to open another register that was empty and then fled, authorities said.

According to authorities, Ramirez admitted in the Nov.3 robbery to entering the store and asking the clerk if he could ask her a question. The clerk approached him, and he said he had a sick child and needed money because insurance wouldn't cover it.

The agreement states he pulled the fake gun out and held it at his side, told the clerk to open the register and then grabbed $1,500 before leaving.