San Francisco, CA – San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that her office secured a conviction of Jose Guevara-Espinoza (23), after a trial by jury for carjacking and robbery. Mr. Guevara-Espinoza was convicted of carjacking (PC 215(a)) with an allegation that he personally used a firearm in the commission of this crime found true (PC 12022.25(b)) and one count of robbery (PC 211) with an allegation that he personally used a firearm in the commission of this crime (PC 12022.25(b)) found true.
“I would like to thank the jury for their service in this trial,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “I would also like to thank the witnesses and the San Francisco, Berkeley, Daly City, and Oakland Police Departments for their coordination and partnership with my office to successfully prosecute this case and keep us all safer across the Bay Area.”
According to evidence and other testimony presented at trial on April 16, 2022, at about 9 PM, Mr. Guevara-Espinoza and an accomplice accosted the victim with guns drawn and demanded his car keys while he was parked on the 3700 block of Fillmore Street. The victim described the guns as having extended magazines and lasers. Fearing that he would be shot, the victim gave them his wallet and the keys to his 2018 BMW. One of the assailants then ran to the victim’s vehicle and forced out his friend who was waiting for him, at gunpoint while the other then got into the getaway car.
The victim was able to track his car being driven towards Oakland via an Air-Tag on his keys and through the BMW mobile application. Approximately 30 minutes later, dash camera video shows Mr. Guevara-Espinoza driving the victim’s BMW in Oakland and swapping out the license plates with a parked car. Oakland Police were able to locate the victim’s BMW later that night with Mr. Guevara-Espinoza’s sweatshirt left inside. A search warrant executed at his residence later revealed the same pants and shoes he was seen wearing in the dash camera video and a firearm with a laser.
On April 16, 2022, just six hours earlier, Mr. Guevara-Espinoza and the same accomplice were seen on video accosting another individual at gun point for his vehicle in Berkeley, California. Mr. Guevara-Espinoza and the accomplice were wearing the same clothes as they were seen wearing in the dash camera video and he was seen pointing a firearm at the occupants of the vehicle.
On April 25, 2022, Mr. Guevara-Espinoza and two other accomplices accosted yet another individual at gun point for his vehicle in Daly City, California. That vehicle was located at Mr. Guevara-Espinoza’s residence during the execution of the search warrant.
The case against Mr. Guevara-Espinoza was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze, with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Rosanna Figueroa, paralegal Sara Wong and IT support from Noaeh Pinaire. Victim Advocate Amy Prado worked closely with the victim and all of the witnesses throughout the pendency of this case. Prosecutors were able to develop a strong case against Mr. Guevara-Espinoza based on the careful investigation and strong collaboration of several Bay Area law enforcement agencies including the San Francisco Police Department’s Northern Station, Robbery Detail and Special Investigations Division, Berkeley Police Department, Daly City Police Department and the Oakland Police Department.
“I want to thank the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence in this case and returning a just verdict that holds Mr. Guevara-Espinoza accountable for his actions,” said Assistant District Attorney Angela Roze. “This verdict sends a message that violent crime will not be tolerated in our city.”
Mr. Guevara-Espinoza is currently in custody. Sentencing will be scheduled after a hearing on May 2, 2025.
Court Number: 24014916
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