Long Beach Man Sentenced to 26½ Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery Spree that Ended in Fatal Car Crash During Police Pursuit

LOS ANGELES - A Long Beach man was sentenced today to 318 months in federal prison for committing armed robberies of three Los Angeles County businesses in September 2023, a crime spree that ended in a high-speed police chase that resulted in the defendant hitting and killing an innocent bystander with a stolen car.

Kaelenn Sinaukoko Maea, 29, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

Maea pleaded guilty in April 2025 to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of possessing, using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a short-barreled rifle in furtherance, and during and in relation to, a crime of violence.

According to his plea agreement, Maea and his accomplices committed three armed robberies during a one-week span in late September 2023: specifically, a Downey liquor store, a Compton gasoline station, and a South El Monte convenience store, netting a total of approximately $5,050 in stolen cash.

Inside the Downey liquor store, Maea discharged a short-barreled rifle. While inside the Compton gasoline station, he brandished a short-barreled rifle at an employee and stood in the doorway to prevent the customers or employees inside from escaping. He also brandished the rifle at the South El Monte convenience store.

On October 9, 2023, Maea drove a stolen Range Rover used in the latter two robberies and fled from law enforcement, driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed. Shortly after fleeing, Maea crashed the stolen getaway car into a civilian motorist, killing the victim. Nevertheless, he continued that dangerous flight, hitting even more cars and injuring another civilian motorist. Maea then fled on foot and hid underneath a house until law enforcement arrested him.

The three co-defendants charged in this case have pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges.

• Isaiah Villasana, 27, of Carson, is serving a 10-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty in April 2025 to a firearms charge for holding a victim at gunpoint during the Downey liquor store robbery.
• Mathew Salanoa, 32, of Placentia, is serving a 49-month federal prison sentence for participating in the Compton robbery after pleading guilty in August 2025 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy.
• Salagi Iakopo, 26, of Compton, pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and is scheduled for sentencing on August 19.

The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigated this matter. The Los Angeles Police Department, the El Monte Police Department, and the Downey Police Department provided assistance.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.