The second of two South American nationals allegedly linked to the armed robbery of a $1 million emerald-encrusted Patek Phillipe watch from a tourist sitting on the patio of a restaurant at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel pleaded not guilty Thursday to a federal charge. Jesus Eduardo Padron Rojas, 19, of Venezuela entered his plea in downtown Los Angeles to one count of interference with commerce by robbery — known as a federal Hobbs Act crime, according to the U.S.
Attorney’s Office. A tentative trial date of Oct. 22 was scheduled.
A mystery lingers over how Padron and his co-defendant came into possession of a handgun registered to Christopher Dorner , the notorious former LAPD officer who killed four people before dying at the end of a standoff with police 11 years ago. The suspected robbers are believed to be part of a “crime tourism” group composed of foreign nationals who travel to the United States to engage in high-value theft. The robbery on the afternoon of Aug.
7 targeted a watch worn by a British tourist sitting with his wife and two daughters on the patio of the hotel cafe. Prosecutors said one of the suspects approached and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the victim and pulled back the slide of the handgun, chambering a round. While the first suspect held the victim at gunpoint, the second suspect approached and snatched the silver Patek Philippe watch, estimated to be worth $1 million, from the victim’s wrist, prosecutors said.
The watch was lat.