SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was found guilty by a jury today of robbing several marijuana dealers at gunpoint during two large scale drug deals at a resort in Newport Coast.

Circumstances of the Case

• On Feb.18, 2017, and March 21, 2017, Prince met victims in a parking lot in Newport Coast to purchase large quantities of marijuana worth over $100,000.
• On each occasion, the defendant drove the victims to a nearby resort to conduct the illegal exchange inside a private hotel villa.
• Once inside the room, Prince robbed the victims at gunpoint and stole 60 pounds of marijuana and 90 pounds of marijuana, respectively, as well as the victims' personal belongings.
• The Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) investigated this case after robbery victim John Doe's family member reported him missing on Feb 18, 2017.
• Two of John Doe's associates, Steele Burnside and Nicholas Hernandez, are accused of holding the victim hostage in exchange for the $130,000 estimated value of the marijuana lost as a result of the robbery (Case # 17HF0244). They were arrested by NBPD on Feb 20, 2017.
• NBPD identified Prince as the robbery suspect following the kidnapping investigation and arrested the defendant on March 29, 2017

Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Chrisopoulos, Special Prosecutions Unit

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 17HF0430  / October 18, 2017