ST. LOUIS, MO – In a dramatic turn of events, eight alleged participants in the Plaza Frontenac heist have been indicted on federal charges. The group is accused of masterminding one of the most brazen robberies in recent memory.
The eight suspects, Dejuan Wingard, Mario Washington, Jacob Lee, Derrick Crowder, Darius Bowdry, Terrence Bell, Julian Campbell, and Keyshyala Thomas, all from Chicago, Illinois, face charges for interstate transportation of stolen property. The charges follow a criminal complaint filed Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Court records reveal that the suspects targeted the Chanel counter at Saks Fifth Avenue on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. They made off with thirty handbags and caused significant damage to fixtures before fleeing the scene in two vehicles. The group was pursued by law enforcement but managed to evade capture initially due to their high-speed chase.
After a pursuit that reached speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, Illinois State Police eventually apprehended the suspects’ vehicle, which contained sixteen of the stolen handbags. All eight suspects are currently in federal custody pending trial.
The crime carries serious penalties, with a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The government is also seeking criminal forfeiture of all the stolen merchandise. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Albus is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Investigation into this high-profile case has been a collaborative effort between several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Frontenac Police Department, Illinois State Police, Montgomery (IL) County Sheriff’s Department, and St. Louis County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. As always, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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