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Parolee Who Set Up Internet Dates With Gay Men To Rob Them Found Guilty

TORRANCE (CBS) —  A parolee who set up dates with gay men through social networking sites for the sole purpose of robbing them is headed back to court Tuesday to face trial on other charges.

Angel Pena Ayala, 25, was found guilty late Thursday of robbery, kidnapping, carjacking and other charges, according to prosecutors.

Ayala -- who already had a October 2005 conviction for carjacking -- met two men through a social networking site and robbed them in March 2010.

In one of the robberies, Ayala ordered the male victim to drive to a nearby automated teller machine and forced him to withdraw money before driving off in the man's car.

Police identified Ayala through fingerprints from the vehicle, which was later recovered, authorities said.

Ayala was arrested while meeting with his parole officer, and some of the stolen items were recovered.

Ayala could face up to life in prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

A sentencing date is expected to be set after Ayala appears in Torrance Superior Court next week to face prior charges, court personnel said.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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