ERIC CURTIS, Armed Robbery, Illinois 2016

CHICAGO — A Park Forest man has been convicted in federal court of leading a crew of armed robbers that targeted cellular telephone stores in the Chicago suburbs.

ERIC CURTIS, 31, was found guilty of leading the crew, which stole hundreds of cell phones while terrorizing store employees and customers at gunpoint. The crew, which included several individuals recruited by Curtis, conducted takeover-style robberies at cell phone stores in the Chicago suburbs of Addison, Norridge, Deerfield and Woodridge.

The evidence presented during the trial revealed that the crew would enter a store, brandish firearms, and order employees and customers to the back of the store. The robbers would then take as many cell phones as they could stuff into their duffel bags.

Curtis helped sell the stolen phones and divided the profits among the thieves. Seven other members of the crew have previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. District Judge Charles P. Kocoras scheduled a sentencing hearing for Aug. 4, 2016, at 9:45 a.m. Curtis could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 57 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The investigation into the crew was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with substantial assistance provided by the police departments from Woodridge, Deerfield, Joliet, Norridge and East Peoria. The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher V. Parente and Allison A. Ray.

The conviction of Curtis and his crew serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of violent crime on our communities. The hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies in the Chicago suburbs have helped to bring justice to the victims of these crimes.

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