A brazen daylight smash-and-grab robbery at a Beverly Hills jewelry store in March 2022 ended in a lengthy prison sentence for the Long Beach man who led the heist.
Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, was sentenced on [undisclosed] to 80 months in federal prison for his role in the March 22, 2022, robbery of the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills store.
Vernon pleaded guilty on August 1 to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and was ordered to pay $2,674,600 in restitution to the store.
The robbery was carried out by Vernon and his accomplices, who smashed the store’s display case with heavy tools while employees were present, causing fear of injury to people inside the store.
The thieves made off with approximately $2.7 million worth of merchandise, including 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings, and 20 watches.
However, the getaway was short-lived, as the suspects left behind their stolen Kia vehicle, which had been reported stolen out of Long Beach four days before the robbery.
Law enforcement also recovered a cellphone that fell out of Vernon’s sweatpants pocket during the robbery, which was later used as evidence against him.
Vernon’s accomplices were also charged in connection with the heist, with Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach, pleading guilty in December 2023 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and serving a federal prison sentence of one year and one day. Ladell Tharpe, 39, of Long Beach, pleaded guilty on September 30 to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and awaits a January 6, 2025, sentencing hearing.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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