Darius Bowdry, Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property, Missouri 2024

A brazen smash and grab theft shook the upscale Plaza Frontenac on November 26, 2016, as a group of individuals made off with over $100,000 in Chanel purses from Saks Fifth Avenue.

The incident occurred shortly after the store opened on a Saturday morning, with the group targeting the Chanel boutique and ripping numerous handbags from the shelves. Within minutes, the group departed the store and entered two waiting vehicles, sparking an extended chase.

One of the vehicles and approximately half of the stolen purses were eventually stopped near Litchfield, Illinois, marking a significant breakthrough in the investigation.

Two of the defendants, Darius Bowdry, 22, and Keyshyala Thomas, 22, both of Chicago, Illinois, have been sentenced for their roles in the incident.

Darius Bowdry received an 18-month prison sentence, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay Saks Fifth Avenue $159,185 in restitution.

Keyshyala Thomas was handed a 30-month prison sentence, also followed by 3 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay the same amount in restitution as Bowdry.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Frontenac Police Department, and several other law enforcement agencies, including the Illinois State police, the Hamel, Illinois Police Department, the Montgomery County, Illinois Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The sentencing of Bowdry and Thomas brings closure to the victims of this brazen crime and serves as a reminder of the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators to justice.

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