Southwest
Texas trio sought in Oklahoma for stealing $25K from man praying at place of worship
Three Texas men are wanted in Oklahoma for stealing $25,000 from a man while he was praying at a shrine in Oklahoma City.
Gabriel Lara, Nicholas Barrientos and Ruben Barrientos are accused of smashing a window in the victim’s car and taking his money, according to KOCO. The victim stopped at Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine to pray while he was on his way to purchase a car.
The three suspects started by stealing a license plate off of a car in the parking lot of Santa Fe South High School on Plaza Mayor Blvd. in south Oklahoma City. The trio then put the Oklahoma plate on their own car, police, the outlet reported.
The men then drove to a nearby Bank of America to search for potential victims.
TEXAS INFLUENCER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT
Three Texas men are wanted in Oklahoma for stealing $25,000 from a man while he was praying at a shrine in Oklahoma City. (iStock)
Their victim arrived at the bank and withdrew $25,000 to buy a vehicle before driving away.
The suspects tailed the victim and even ran a red light to keep close, as the victim was unaware that he was being followed.
The victim arrived at the church parking lot and exited his vehicle to go inside and pray. As he was inside the Catholic place of worship, the suspects smashed a window of his vehicle and stole his money.
TEXAS MAN CONVICTED AFTER SAYING HE MUTILATED VICTIMS, ATE HUMAN HEART AS PART OF ‘RITUALISTIC SACRIFICES’
The three suspects are wanted on burglary and larceny charges. (iStock)
The arrest warrant said the three men were later stopped in Wichita, Kansas, where an officer reported smelling marijuana and said the suspects had conflicting stories, KOCO reported. However, no drugs were found with them, and they were allowed to leave.
The officer also asked the suspects about why they had so much money on them, but the driver explained that it was from a vehicle he had recently sold, according to the outlet.
All three suspects had Texas identification and addresses, and none of them had ties to Oklahoma, according to the arrest warrants.
Gabriel Lara, Nicholas Barrientos and Ruben Barrientos are accused of smashing a window in the victim’s car and taking his money. (iStock)
The three men are wanted on burglary and larceny charges. All three have previous charges in Waco, Texas.
Authorities are continuing to search for the suspects.
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A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]
A woman was hospitalized with serious injuries after she was violently attacked by a robber in downtown Long Beach. On June 18, Jennifer Silva, 34, was attending a World Cup watch party at a Hooters restaurant at 90 Aquarium Way. After the game ended, she left the restaurant just before 11 p.m. As she walked […]
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