Orange County Man Admits to String of Armed Robberies at Fast-Food Chains

Freddie Alexander Lopez, 24, of Santa Ana entered a guilty plea Friday in federal court to robbery charges connected with multiple armed attacks on fast-food restaurants throughout Orange County. Lopez admitted to threatening employees at several Subway locations and a donut shop during a six-day period spanning late January and early February 2026.

FBI investigators documented a pattern in Lopez’s methodology across all targeted establishments. He would arrive during late-night hours, cover his face with a mask and dark hoodie, make a small purchase, and then display a weapon once the register was accessed.

The robberies began January 27, 2026, when Lopez entered a Santa Ana Subway shortly before midnight armed with a knife and demanded approximately $300 from a cashier. He escaped with the money before authorities arrived at the scene.

Three days later at approximately 1 a.m. on January 30, Lopez attempted an identical robbery at a Fountain Valley Subway, but the employee thwarted the attempt by securing the register and refusing compliance. Lopez fled the location without obtaining any funds.

Within half an hour of the failed Fountain Valley attempt, investigators report Lopez robbed a donut shop roughly 5.5 miles away. The second robbery proved successful, netting cash from the business before his escape.

On February 1, Lopez targeted an Anaheim Subway while brandishing what appeared to be a black handgun and confronted a female cashier. Surveillance footage showed him jumping over the counter when she refused his demands, but he failed to secure the register key and left empty-handed.

Officers arrested Lopez on February 6 during a traffic stop in Santa Ana after matching his vehicle to robbery descriptions provided by witnesses and surveillance. Police recovered weapons, masks, and eyeglasses in his vehicle consistent with items used in the crimes.

Lopez initially remained free pending trial but was remanded into federal custody on April 30. His sentencing is scheduled for October 2, with prosecutors seeking a maximum penalty of twenty years in federal prison.