Man sentenced to 26 years for 2022 armed robbery spree across Southern California

An Arizona man who pleaded guilty last spring to a four-county armed robbery spree in Southern California in 2022 was sentenced on Monday, Jan. 22, to 26 years in federal prison.

Samuel Sven Smith, 28, pleaded guilty in May to charges including two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Smith, a resident of Phoenix, was also ordered to pay $8,873 in restitution.

From July 31, 2022, until his arrest on Aug. 20, 2022, Smith robbed a Big Lots store in Riverside and PetSmart stores in Signal Hill, Orange, San Bernardino, Fontana, Pico Rivera, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga and Phoenix. In each robbery, a firearm was brandished at employees.

During his last robbery at a Rancho Cucamonga PetSmart store on Aug. 20, 2022, Smith stole $400 before attempting to flee. When he was met outside by law enforcement, Smith opened fire at the officers.

He then led law enforcement on a high-speed vehicle chase.

Smith fired his gun at officers several times during the pursuit, which extended into Pomona, before a patrol vehicle rammed into Smith’s vehicle and stopped it.

Smith’s chin was injured from a gunshot wound from his firearm after he mistakenly fired a shot when police rammed into his vehicle, according to a sworn affidavit filed with the criminal complaint in this case.