SAN FRANCISCO—On Monday, November 4, 2024, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office disclosed that a conviction was secured against Bruce Blanco, 40, after a trial by jury for two separate armed robberies and the possession of firearms and ammunition in the Mission District of San Francisco.
Blanco was convicted of one count of second-degree robbery (PC 211) with enhancements for the personal use of a firearm (PC 12022.5(a) and 12022.53(b)); one count of attempted robbery with enhancements for personal use of a firearm (PC 12022.5(a) and 12022.53(b)); two counts of possession of firearm by a felon (PC 29800(a)(1)); and three counts of possession of ammunition by a felon (PC 30305(a)(1)).
According to evidence and other testimony presented at trial, the defendant was found by officers of the San Francisco Police Department in possession of ammunition near 20th Street and South Van Ness in the Mission on January 20, 2022. Three months later, on March 12, 2022, he was inside an apartment building near 19th Street and Mission Street when the victim returned home from work.
He asked the victim for a dollar while the victim was climbing the stairs to his apartment, and when the victim pulled out his wallet to give Blanco a dollar, the defendant pulled out a firearm and demanded the rest of the victim’s money, which he gave. Six days later Blanco entered a seafood restaurant near 19th Street and Mission Street after a deliveryman opened the door.
He pulled out a firearm and demanded that the chef open the register. When he was unable to access the register, he left the restaurant. Later, Blanco was spotted outside the restaurant by sergeants from the SFPD Robbery Detail where he was detained and found in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Blanco is currently in custody. His sentencing has not been scheduled yet. His next court date is November 20, 2024, for a bench trial on aggravating factors.
