Man sentenced in string of armed robberies

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A 19-year-old man convicted in connection with a four-city string of armed robberies was sentenced to six years in state prison today in West Valley Superior Court.

Prosecutors said Felipe Curiel served as the driver for a group of young men who robbed a series of random victims the night of April 17, 2008.

One man was shot and three others were pistol-whipped in the robberies, which were committed in Upland, Ontario, Montclair and Rancho Cucamonga.

Curiel pleaded guilty last month to robbery and assault with a firearm. Because he has been in custody since the robberies, about three and a half years will be deducted from his six-year prison sentence.

His four co-defendants were each sentenced to prison terms of between 13 and 15 years.