2 Found Guilty in Robbery of Secret Service Agent

Two men have been convicted of robbing an off-duty Secret Service agent at gunpoint in California, facing decades in prison for their crimes.

At a Glance

Jamonte Fitzgerald Johnson and Eshon Dwayne Dodson were convicted of robbing a Secret Service agent.
The robbery occurred on June 15 in Tustin, California, after a fundraiser attended by President Joe Biden.
Johnson faces up to 35 years to life due to previous felony convictions.
Dodson faces up to six years in prison for his role in the robbery.
A third accomplice, Bertran Claude Bell, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years.

Details of the Robbery

On June 15, an off-duty Secret Service agent became the victim of an armed robbery in Tustin, California. The incident occurred as the agent was returning home from a fundraiser for President Joe Biden in Los Angeles. Two men, later identified as Jamonte Fitzgerald Johnson and Eshon Dwayne Dodson, confronted the agent at gunpoint, demanding his laptop and other belongings.

The robbers, brandishing a firearm, approached the agent and demanded his bag. Fearing for his safety, the agent fired seven rounds at the suspects’ vehicle as they fled the scene. The assailants made off with the agent’s cell phone, radio, radio holster, lapel pins, flashlight, gun magazines, and other items.

Investigation and Arrests

Law enforcement quickly launched an investigation, using the agent’s stolen iPhone to track the suspects. Some of the stolen items were recovered nearby. DNA evidence from a dropped gun linked Johnson to the robbery, while Dodson was identified as the driver of the getaway vehicle.

The authorities made a series of arrests in the weeks following the robbery. Johnson was apprehended on July 11 in Riverside, while Dodson was taken into custody on July 17 in Los Angeles. A third accomplice, Bertran Claude Bell, who was wounded during the incident, was arrested on July 24.

Convictions and Sentencing

Following their trial, both Johnson and Dodson were found guilty of their roles in the armed robbery. Johnson, 32, was convicted of robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon, with sentencing enhancements for personal use of a firearm. Due to his status as a third-strike offender with previous felony convictions, Johnson now faces a maximum sentence of 35 years to life in prison.

“Today’s convictions are yet another example of how crime doesn’t pay in Orange County and that justice will be swift and it will be decisive,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said.

Dodson, 21, was convicted of robbery with a sentencing enhancement for being armed with a gun during the crime. He faces up to six years in prison for his involvement. The third accomplice, Bertran Claude Bell, 38, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery with a sentencing enhancement for being armed and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Prosecutor’s Response

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer commented on the case, emphasizing the swift action taken by law enforcement and prosecutors. He criticized state policies that he believes encourage criminal activity and highlighted Orange County’s commitment to decisive justice.

The convictions of Johnson and Dodson serve as a reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement officers, even when off-duty, and the consequences that await those who engage in violent criminal activities. As the case concludes, it underscores the importance of public safety and the ongoing efforts to combat crime in communities across the nation.