Two charged with San Jose smoke shop robbery spree
For release on May 18, 2022
CONTACT:
Gabriella Jarvis
Deputy District Attorney
Major Crime and Drug Trafficking
(408) 792-2787
Two charged with San Jose smoke shop robbery spree
Two men have been charged with a month-long spree in which they held up at least seven small San Jose businesses, mostly smoke shops, stealing cash, cell phones, and Swishers Sweets, at gunpoint.
In one of the store robberies, one of the suspects held a gun on a customer while another ripped away the victim’s cell phone, pulling her out of her wheelchair.
The defendants were arraigned on multiple felony armed robbery charges: Vayshawd Beverly, 19, of Ceres, was arrested by San Jose Police last week in Fresno. He was arraigned May 17. The court reduced bail from $2 million to $250,000 against the prosecutor’s objections. Juan Gomez, aka Eliazar Alvarez, 22, of East Palo Alto, was arrested in February and arraigned in March. He is in custody on $2 million bail. They face prison time, if convicted.
"These men rode around this city, threatening innocent people and endangering lives,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “They will be held accountable by my Office, and our community will not live in fear.”
The spree began earlier this year.
- On January 28, 2022, Defendants Beverly and Gomez, along with two other individuals, robbed Sharkey Smoke Shop on Senter Road in San Jose.
- Thirty minutes later, the same group robbed three people at 99 Foot Spa located on W San Carlos Street in San Jose.
- On February 7, 2022, Beverly and Gomez robbed the Kwikee Mart located on McKee Road in San Jose.
- On February 8, 2022, Beverly and Gomez, along with a third suspect, robbed the Berryessa Smoke Shop on Berryessa Road in San Jose
- On February 18, 2022, Gomez and two other suspects robbed the McKee Smoke Shop on McKee Road in San Jose.
- On February 24, 2022, Defendants Beverly and Gomez, along with a third individual, robbed the Santa Clara Smoke Shop on E Santa Clara Street in San Jose.
- On February 27, 2022, Defendant Beverly and another individual robbed the Discount Cigarettes and Cigars store located on McKee Road in San Jose.
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