Los Angeles utility worker among four charged in graffiti spree

Four individuals have been arrested and charged with felony vandalism following a yearlong graffiti spree in Los Angeles that caused an estimated $173,000 to $200,000 in damages. The suspects targeted 12 locations, including 11 buildings in and around downtown Los Angeles and one in the mid-Wilshire area.

Among those charged is Javier Rezendez Rocha, an electrical craft helper for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Prosecutors allege Rocha used his professional knowledge of climbing ropes and specialized utility equipment to help the crew scale tall buildings. The group reportedly used drones to record their activities and social media platforms to promote the vandalism, which they allegedly monetized by selling related merchandise.

The defendants include Rocha, Michael Ray Gonzales, Francisco Rodriguez Aguilar, and Richard Evan Ward II. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman described the activity as a profit-driven operation, stating that the crimes destroy the quality of life in the community. Prosecutors intend to seek punishment that requires the offenders to personally remove the graffiti.