SAN DIEGO - Two men accused in the armed robberies of 10 Metro PCS cellphone stores in San Diego County over a month-long period pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges contained in an 11-count federal indictment.
Carlos Adolfo Soto, 39, and Justin Wayne Caldwell, 30, were arrested after a Feb. 21 robbery when federal and state law enforcement officials saw Soto at a Metro PCS store on Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach, and saw Caldwell waiting in a vehicle nearby, authorities said.
As Soto quickly left the store a short time later, officers approached him and he allegedly fled on foot. Soto was later found hiding near a private residence, and cash and a pellet gun were found along his escape route, authorities said.
Caldwell was arrested in his vehicle, which allegedly was being used as a getaway car.
Soto and Caldwell are charged with conspiracy to affect commerce by robbery and 10 counts of interference with commerce by robbery. The indictment alleges forfeiture of $50,000, representing the loss taken from the victims in the 10 robberies which occurred between Jan. 25 and Feb. 21, prosecutors said.
The defendants will be back in court March 27.
Watch 10News' Facebook Live of authorities announcing arrests related to the MetroPCS robbery spree:
