By Summer Lin
Mercury News
SAN JOSE, Calif. —Six men have been arrested in connection to a string of robberies allegedly targeting Asian women in the Bay Area, concluding a yearlong investigation, according to authorities.
Twenty-four-year-old Anthony Michael Robinson of Stockton; Cameron Alonzo Moody, 27, of East Palo Alto; Derje Damond Blanks, 23, of San Jose; Hassani Burleson Ramsey, 24, of Oakland; Clarence Jackson, 21, of East Palo Alto and Malik Short, 21, of Tracy were charged with hate crime enhancements by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, San Jose police said in a Wednesday news release.
The men allegedly targeted Asian women because they believed they “don’t use banks” and would be carrying cash.
Ethnic slurs were allegedly used against some of the women by the three men and officials said the suspects followed the women to their cars in parking lots and waited until they were inside before opening the door or breaking a window to snatch a purse from their passenger seat.
The latest arrests conclude a yearlong investigation into robberies that targeted Asian women, including some who were injured during the alleged crimes, authorities said.
Detectives identified and arrested the six men, who they said worked together from October 2020 to September 2021. Police said the suspects were involved in more than 70 incidents of robbery, theft and burglary. Firearms, including one ghost gun, were recovered during the investigation.
“We are sensitive to the hate aspect targeting Asian females,” said San Jose Chief of Police Anthony Mata. “I commend District Attorney Jeff Rosen for pursuing hate crime enhancements. We have tenacious investigators, and a dedicated apprehension team that was tasked with bringing these suspects to justice.”
(c)2021 the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)