Duo Sentenced Following Convictions in 2017 Armed Robbery Series
Fremont Incident Related to this Case:
Location: Bank of America parking lot – 39000 block of Fremont Blvd. Date/Time of Incident: October 28, 2017
On February 7, 2020, suspect Anthony Smith, a 33 years old transient, was sentenced to 17 years in State Prison behind his involvement in a series of armed robberies and shootings which occurred throughout the Easy Bay in October of 2017. His co-defendant, Mary Fajardo, a 37 year old transient, was sentenced last year on January 17, 2019 to two years in State Prison.
Case summary:
During a six-day stretch in October 2017, suspects Anthony Smith and Mary Fajardo participated in five separate armed-robberies across multiple Easy Bay cities.
* On October 25, 2017, Smith robbed a 7 Eleven store, located on International Blvd in Oakland at gunpoint. Smith produced a firearm, pointed it at two victim clerks and demanded money. During the robbery, Smith fired a shot in the direction of employees (no one was injured). A 9mm shell casing was recovered. Smith fled in a red vehicle. Video surveillance from the incident was captured.
* On October 27, 2017, Smith robbed a Metro PCS store, located in the 14000 block of East 14th St in San Leandro at gunpoint. As the store was closing, Smith entered the store, brandished a firearm and demanded money from the register. The victim clerk gave money to Smith and he fled the store. Video surveillance from the incident was captured.
* On October 28, 2017, Smith car-jacked a vehicle at gunpoint from two victims who had been using the Bank of America ATM, located in the 39300 block of Fremont Blvd in Fremont. Smith approached the victims, pointed a firearm at them and demanded they throw their cash and keys on the ground. Smith fled in victim’s vehicle and was followed out by Fajardo, who was driving a red vehicle. Video surveillance from the incident was captured.
* On October 30, 2017, Smith robbed Anne's Nail salon, located on E 14th St. in San Leandro at gunpoint. Smith entered the store, pointed a firearm at the multiple patrons inside and demanded money. At the time of the robbery, several customers were present having their nails done. Smith fired one shot from the handgun into the back-wall area of the salon (no one hit or injured). One of the victim clerks immediately ran to the register and handed money to Smith. Smith demanded more money but the victim stated she had no more. Smith then left the store. Video surveillance of the robbery/shooting was captured showing Smith commit the robbery and firing a shot during the robbery. A 9mm shell casing was recovered from the scene, matching the 7-Eleven robbery in Oakland.
* On October 30, 2017, approximately five hours after the Anne’s Nail salon robbery, Smith robbed the Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream store, located on Broadway Ave in Oakland. Smith pointed a black handgun at the victim clerk and demanded money from the register. Video surveillance from the incident was captured.
On October 31, 2017, detectives from the Oakland Police Department, San Leandro Police Department and the Fremont Police Department met to share information and work jointly on the series. Evidence, including video, from the robberies was analyzed. From that joint investigation, Smith and Fajardo were developed as possible suspects.
The next day, November 1, 2017, San Leandro Police Department detectives located Smith and Fajardo in Vallejo driving in the red suspect vehicle seen in multiple robberies. Detectives coordinated a plan to safely arrest the duo. Upon arrest, Smith was found to be in possession of a 9mm firearm (caliber matching robberies which shots were fired at). The serial numbers on the firearm had been scratched out. The vehicle they had been driving was found to have been stolen out of Vallejo on October 17, 2017. Additional evidence tying the duo to the robberies/shootings was located inside the suspect vehicle.
On November 3, 2017, the duo was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney in connection with the armed robbery series. Smith was charged with over thirty (30) felonies as a result (Fremont courthouse).
On January 17, 2019, Fajardo was sentenced to two years State Prison for her involvement in the series. Fajardo was released from custody in July 2019 and is remains out of custody and on Parole.
On August 29, 2019, Smith pled no contest to three of the robberies and possession of a firearm during the commission of the robberies.
On February 7, 2020, Smith was sentenced to 17 years State Prison behind his involvement in the series of armed robberies and shootings. Smith is currently being held at Santa Rita Jail awaiting his transfer to a State Prison to serve the balance of his sentence.
This violent and dangerous series of crimes could not have been solved as quickly as it was without the coordinated efforts of the Oakland Police Department, the San Leandro Police Department and the Fremont Police Department. Detectives from each agency have a long history of collaboration on cases together. The detective’s quick actions and teamwork resulted not only the safe arrest of the duo but also to the securing of crucial evidence tying the suspects to the series of violent crimes.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please call the Fremont Police Department’s Investigative Unit at 510-790-6900 and ask for Senior Detective Michael Gebhardt or send an anonymous tip by texting TIP FREMONTPD followed by your message to 888-777, or via the web at https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/6216337.
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