Editing Iakob Ionuț (section)

== Criminal history ==
{{See also|2002 Bucharest bank robbery|2004 Brașov armored car robbery|2005 Ploiești shootout}}
[[File:Iakob Ionuț, c 2000s.png|thumb|439x439px|Iakob Ionuț]]
Iakob became formally active in the Bucharest Butchers during the late 1990s. His early work involved debt enforcement, illegal gambling protection, weapon movement, and intimidation connected to Bucharest-based criminal operations. He did not show the same administrative ability as Petru and was instead valued for direct violence and loyalty to orders.

By the early 2000s, Iakob had become closely associated with assaults, robberies, and internal punishment work. He carried a gold-colored switchblade during this period, which later became connected to several killings attributed to him.

On 23 December 2002, Iakob entered the occupied Unirii Central Branch of [[Banca Dâmbovița]] with Petru and Emil. He immediately fired into the ceiling with a [[PM md. 65]], copying the opening of the [[North Hollywood shootout]] because he admired [[Emil Mătăsăreanu]], then controlled the public hall while the other two entered the cash-processing area. Iakob punched an eight-month-pregnant customer unconscious, kicked customers who moved or raised their heads, and continued firing at fixtures and furniture without striking anyone.

When the first police patrol arrived, Iakob tried to take a child from the entrance as a hostage until Petru ordered him to leave the child and return to the escape van. Iakob inserted a drum magazine into his rifle and fired through the patrol car, seriously wounding both officers, then taunted them and shouted slurs until Petru called him back. One round from an officer's pistol struck Iakob's body armour without injuring him. The three escaped with cash worth approximately 180 billion old Romanian lei.

During the [[2004 Brașov armored car robbery]], planned by Petru, Iakob posed as a road worker at a false maintenance site on the DN1/E68 between [[Ghimbav]] and [[Brașov]]. After the armored vehicle stopped, he disarmed its two guards and kept the crew under guard while Emil removed 40 billion old Romanian lei. The robbery took approximately five minutes and ended without injuries.

[[Oskar Dirlewanger]] ordered the third robbery as a test of Iakob's planning. Iakob selected Banca Dâmbovița's cash-processing centre in [[Ploiești]], intended to steal cash worth 30 million new Romanian lei, and planned a direct entry through its loading bay without a second vehicle. Petru opposed the plan, while Emil expressed doubts but did little to challenge Iakob because he was drunk during the preparation.

The attack began at approximately 5:45{{nbsp}}a.m. on 30 June 2005. Iakob killed the first guard who fired at him and led the advance into the counting hall. After two rounds struck his armour without penetrating it, he opened fire on unarmed employees, killing three and wounding two. He then fired through the loading bay at the first municipal police patrol, killing one officer and seriously wounding the other.

Once Petru had loaded cash worth 6 million new Romanian lei into their stolen Renault Master, Iakob deliberately abandoned his position without warning Emil and ordered Petru to drive away. He fired from the rear of the van during their escape and wounded two more officers. Emil fought his way out separately and later confronted Iakob at a Bucharest Butchers workshop near [[Brazi]], where Petru stopped them from fighting.

Iakob told Dirlewanger that Emil had departed from the plan and caused their separation. Dirlewanger judged Iakob's planning a failure because the crew had obtained 20% of the intended amount and nearly lost Emil, although he approved of the violence and blamed Emil for failing to remain with the others. Dirlewanger retained the entire 6 million lei.

Iakob rose to the internal position of [[Blade Captain]]. Within the organization, this placed him below the senior command figures but gave him authority over armed enforcement personnel.

=== Killing of Larry Phillips Jr. ===

In 2013, [[Andrei Ionuț]] ordered the consolidation of the Bucharest Butchers' overseas operations in [[Los Angeles]]. Petru and Iakob were sent to take control of the structure originally established by [[Emil Mătăsăreanu]].

Before the transfer was fully completed, Iakob killed [[Larry Phillips Jr.]], who had cooperated with the California branch but had never been accepted as a formal member of the organization. Iakob entered Phillips' residence in Hollywood, overpowered him with a wire, and strangled him to death.

The killing strengthened Iakob's position and helped secure his role as Petru's second-in-command in California.

=== California operations ===

After arriving in Hollywood, Petru controlled administration, money movement, casino operations, and political connections. Iakob acted as his principal enforcer. His responsibilities included armed intimidation, discipline of local members, narcotics movement, weapons handling, and the removal of people considered threats to the California structure.

During the 2010s and early 2020s, Iakob became increasingly independent from Petru. He developed separate drug routes, kept private cash reserves, and maintained direct contact with Bucharest without always informing his brother.

Iakob was also connected to prostitution networks in Los Angeles and used them for contacts, payments, and concealment. Post-collapse records linked him to rape and child sexual abuse involving multiple girls in California. Petru was not aware of these crimes.

By mid-2024, Iakob had reduced his direct involvement in Petru's casino operations and focused more on drug trafficking, side payments, and contact with Bucharest. He withheld revenue from Petru and increasingly treated the Hollywood structure as something that could be transferred to Marku's faction.

=== Killing of Soufian Schwein ===

In early 2024, Iakob killed [[Soufian Schwein]], the gun dealer who had supplied Petru and Iakob since 2015. Petru was not told that Iakob had carried out the killing and believed that Schwein had disappeared.

The killing gave Iakob greater access to weapons channels and removed a supplier who remained personally useful to Petru. It also marked a clear shift in Iakob's loyalty away from Petru and toward Marku's internal faction.

=== July 2024 Los Angeles killing ===

On 16 July 2024, Iakob shot and killed 31-year-old Marisa Calderón and her seven-month-old son, Mateo Calderón, on a public sidewalk in [[Los Angeles]]. Calderón was pushing Mateo in a stroller when Iakob walked past them, stopped several steps away, and turned back toward her. Security cameras from nearby buildings recorded him shooting Calderón first. After she fell beside the stroller, Iakob moved closer, adjusted his position to gain a direct view of Mateo, aimed into the stroller, and fired three rounds at the infant. He briefly laughed after the shooting and left the area on foot without attempting to hide his face or recover any evidence.