The Region : Ohio Holds 3 Californians

Ohio authorities have filed robbery charges against three Southern California men who are believed to be members of a Los Angeles gang. The gang is suspected of 60 holdups in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Texas. Columbus Police Sgt. Jerry Knoblauch said the three men, carrying automatic weapons, are suspected of robbing the Argo & Lehne store on Nov. 7. The same group is believed to have robbed two other Columbus-area jewelry stores earlier this year, he said. “The MO (method of operation) fits,” Knoblauch said. “L.A. police have told us there are 20, 30 or as many as 45 members in this group, and they just fly all over the country and rob jewelry stores. According to L.A., this group sends people out to different places to see how difficult it would be to rob them. Then they send people out to hit the place.” The suspects were identified as Lorenzo Justice, 22, and Charles Jackson, 24, both of Los Angeles, and Michael Jackson, 26, of San Bernardino. Knoblauch said the names may be aliases.