California Man Pleads Guilty to Series of Armed Robberies Targeting Orange County Restaurants

A Santa Ana man has admitted his involvement in a series of armed robberies and attempted robberies that targeted three Subway restaurants and a donut shop in Orange County, California, over a six-day period.

Freddie Alexander Lopez, 24, pleaded guilty on Friday to a federal robbery charge. He confessed to threatening cashiers with weapons during the late-night incidents at various establishments.

Modus Operandi and Evidence

According to insights from the FBI, Lopez employed a consistent method for each crime. He would enter the businesses late at night, disguised with a dark hoodie and a mask. His approach involved ordering a small item, such as a bag of chips, and then waiting for the cashier to open the register. Once the register was accessible, he would brandish a weapon and demand cash.

Investigators were able to link Lopez to the crimes through a combination of evidence, including surveillance footage from the targeted businesses and cellphone location data, which placed him in the vicinity of the establishments during the times of the robberies.

Timeline of Incidents

Lopez's crime spree commenced on January 27, 2026, when he entered a Subway location in Santa Ana at 11:57 p.m., as detailed in court documents. During this incident, he brandished a knife and successfully absconded with $300.

In the early hours of January 30, Lopez targeted another Subway, this time in Fountain Valley. He again used a knife to threaten the cashier and demand money. Witnesses who later spoke with law enforcement reported Lopez stating, "Give me all the money, or I'll hurt you." However, in this instance, the cashier refused to comply and promptly closed the cash register, causing Lopez to flee the scene on foot.

Less than 30 minutes following the attempted robbery in Fountain Valley, Lopez proceeded to rob a Yum Yum Donuts store. This establishment was situated approximately five and a half miles from the Subway he had just attempted to rob, according to investigators.

Two days later, on February 1, Lopez entered a third Subway restaurant, located in Anaheim. Surveillance footage reviewed by the FBI showed Lopez appearing to be armed with a black pistol. When the female cashier resisted his demands for money, the footage captured him leaping over the counter and attempting to forcibly take the register key from her hand. After his attempt to obtain the key failed and he was unable to open the register using the touchscreen, Lopez ultimately left the restaurant without any money.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Lopez's apprehension occurred on February 6, when officers from the Santa Ana Police Department conducted a traffic stop. Authorities had identified his vehicle as potentially being involved in the robberies. During the stop, officers discovered items consistent with those used in the crimes, including what appeared to be "the same handgun, knife, mask, and glasses," as stated by the FBI. Investigators specifically noted that a replica gun found in his car seemed to match the weapon used in the attempted robbery on February 1.

Following his initial arrest, Lopez was released pending trial but was subsequently re-arrested on April 30 on the federal robbery charge. With his guilty plea now entered, Lopez is scheduled for sentencing on October 2. He faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.