In a brazen smash and grab theft, a group of eight individuals, including Chicago resident Dejuan Wingard, stole Chanel handbags from the Saks Fifth Avenue store in Frontenac, Missouri on November 26, 2016. The group, which drove into Illinois with the stolen purses, was eventually arrested by state and local police near Litchfield, Illinois.
Wingard, 22, pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property this morning in a St. Louis, Missouri court. Judge Henry Autrey accepted his plea and set his sentencing for August 1, 2017.
The group of defendants now await sentencing and face up to 10 years imprisonment and/or fines up to $250,000 or both. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case marks the culmination of an investigation into the smash and grab theft, which was carried out by multiple individuals. The Frontenac Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, worked tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Wingard’s plea deal is the latest development in the case, which has been ongoing since the incident occurred in 2016. The investigation and subsequent prosecutions have highlighted the importance of interagency cooperation in combating organized crime.
With the guilty plea, Wingard now faces the possibility of up to 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. The case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of engaging in interstate crime and the importance of working together to prevent such crimes from occurring in the future.
Related Federal Cases
- Darius Bowdry, Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property, Missouri 2016 · Illinois
- Kilwa Jones, Assault with a dangerous weapon on federal property, Missouri 2015 · Illinois
- Cedric Cross Sr, Carjacking with Stolen Firearm, Missouri 2024 · Kansas
- William McBroom-Stees, Interstate Stalking, Missouri 2013 · Illinois
- Joshua John Pollard, Possessing Stolen Firearms, Missouri 2018 · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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