February 25, 2022 - The Merced County Sheriff's Office reports on February 10, 2022, deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 76-gas station in Hilmar for an armed robbery. The station clerk described the suspects as two Hispanic males wearing face masks armed with handguns. The Merced County Sheriff’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene and started an investigation.

Detectives were able to identify the suspects and tied them to an armed robbery in Gustine earlier this year.

The suspects were identified as 21-year-old Daniel Guzman, 22-year-old Jesus Valle-Guerra, 37-year-old Jesus Puentes-Montelongo, and 38-year-old Juan Florean Lopez.

With the assistance of the Los Banos Police Department, investigators were able to take Guzman and Valle-Guerra into custody on February 15th.

Lopez was arrested on February 16th and Puentes-Montelongo was taken into custody on February 22nd.

The suspects were booked into Merced County Jail on multiple felony charges, including robbery.


Source: Merced County Sheriff's Office