Swift justice: Jury takes just 43 minutes to convict robber who impersonated police

A Fresno man was convicted Monday of impersonating a police officer in order to rob Spanish-speaking victims of their hard-earned cash.

The jury deliberated only 43 minutes in Fresno County Superior Court before finding Juan Calderon guilty of eight felony charges involving four victims.

Calderon, 28, lowered his head and covered part of his face with his hands when the verdict was announced.

Prior to his trial, Calderon turned down a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for two years. Now he faces eight to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 26 by Judge James Petrucelli.

After the verdict, prosecutor Amy Cobb said she was pleased with the outcome, saying Calderon targeted victims who were not likely to report the crime to police.

The prosecutor thanked Patrick King, Calderon’s friend, who testified that he and Calderon had impersonated police in order to randomly rob dozens of Spanish-speaking victims in October and November 2014.

In January 2016, King, also 28, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to impersonating police and robbery.

“He was a very credible witness,” Cobb said Monday after the verdict.

Fresno police say King and Calderon were training to be bail bondsmen and were issued law enforcement equipment. Dressed in black, armed with flashlights, and wearing a vest that said “Agent,” they would target Mexican nationals leaving nightclubs or on secluded, darkened streets, police said.

King testified that he and Calderon pretended to be police and would ask the victims for identification, demand their wallets, and let them leave after taking cash from them. They did most of their robberies on or near Belmont Avenue, but sometimes went downtown to Chinatown, King said.

The pair ended up stealing $300 to $1,200 from each of their victims, Cobb said.

Court records say King and Calderon surrendered in November 2014 once they learned police were looking for them. King later admitted taking part in the robberies while Calderon insisted he was not guilty.

But Cobb said Monday that the victims, in 911 calls, were able to give good descriptions of the robberies and the suspects’ car. Coupled with King’s testimony, the evidence against Calderon was solid, she said.

This story was originally published January 29, 2018 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Swift justice: Jury takes just 43 minutes to convict robber who impersonated police."