Freddie Alexander Lopez, 24, of Santa Ana, pleaded guilty today to one federal count of interference with commerce by robbery.
According to his plea agreement, Lopez admitted that he robbed or attempted to rob restaurants in Orange County by force and violence, and by intimidation, knowingly took cash or attempted to take cash from employees of the businesses against their will and by threatening them with force.
The businesses listed in the plea agreement include the following:
On January 27, 2026 in Santa Ana, the defendant robbed a Subway restaurant with a knife by demanding that the victim-employee give him cash from the cash register.
On January 30, 2026, the defendant attempted to rob a Subway Restaurant in Fountain Valley with a knife. Also on January 30, 2026, the defendant robbed a Yum Yum Donuts store in Santa Ana, California, with a knife, by demanding that the victim-employee give him cash from the cash register.
On February 1, 2026, the defendant attempted to rob a Subway Restaurant in Anaheim with a replica firearm by demanding that victim-employee give him cash from the cash register.
Officers with the Santa Ana Police Department arrested Lopez on February 6, following a traffic stop of a vehicle believed to be driven after the robberies or attempted robberies. Officers found what appeared to be the same handgun, knife, mask, and glasses used during the robberies. Following the arrest, Lopez was released pre-trial but was then arrested on the federal charges on April 30, 2026. He has been in federal custody since that time.
Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2026 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
This investigation was conducted by the Santa Ana Police Department, the Anaheim Police Department, the Fountain Valley Police Department and the FBI’s Fugitive and Violent Crime Task Force in Orange County. The United States Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California is prosecuting this case.
