REDONDO BEACH : Woman, 2 Sons Charged in Alleged Staged Robbery

A woman and her two sons, accused in the staged robbery of an armored truck in Redondo Beach, were each charged with five felony counts Monday.

Arraigned in South Bay Municipal Court were Maria Aracely Rivera-Cordero, 49, and her son, Luis Fernando Roca, 31, both of La Puente, and Jorge Mario Roca, 28.

Luis Roca and his mother are accused of being the gunman and getaway driver, respectively, in Wednesday’s holdup in front of a Smith’s Food King at 4001 Marine Ave.

The younger Roca brother was the Brinks guard who was “robbed,” prosecutors said.

The mother and Luis Rocawere were arrested minutes later after being chased by an officer who was in the parking lot at the time of the heist.

Luis Roca allegedly walked up behind his brother as a cash delivery was being made, grabbed the younger man’s gun and fired several shots as he fled in the getaway car driven by his mother.

Jorge Roca was arrested the next day after he reportedly told his employer the identity of the robbery suspects.

The three are charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, grand theft, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and willfully evading a law enforcement officer.

It also was alleged that the robbery involved more than $150,000 and that a handgun was used during the commission of the crime. Bail was recommended at $250,000 for each defendant.