A Long Beach resident has admitted his role in a fatal 2021 robbery that resulted in the death of one marijuana dealer and the wounding of another in Inglewood.
Mateo Paul, 22, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday to federal charges of robbery and brandishing a firearm in connection with the crime, which involved a premeditated scheme to lure the victims into an ambush.
Online Setup Leads to Deadly Attack
According to court documents, Paul and two accomplices—Leandrew Raglin, 22, of Lancaster, and Iysis Elanore Smith, 22, of Inglewood—used social media to arrange a fake marijuana deal. Their real intent was to rob the dealers at gunpoint.
On March 15, 2021, Smith made the initial contact with the victims as they arrived at an Inglewood residence. Paul pulled up behind their vehicle, while Raglin approached the passenger side and opened fire without warning.
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The 26-year-old driver was fatally shot, while the passenger sustained gunshot wounds but survived, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
After the attack, the trio stole the marijuana and later smoked it together.
Paul Faces Life in Prison
Paul was arrested in November 2023 and has remained in custody ever since. Although he did not fire the weapon, federal prosecutors argue that his involvement in the robbery made him legally responsible for his co-defendant’s actions.
He is scheduled for sentencing on June 27, 2025, and could face life in federal prison.
Co-Defendants Await Their Fate
Raglin has pleaded not guilty and is set to go to trial in May. Meanwhile, Smith’s case remains pending, and both face the possibility of life sentences if convicted.
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