A federal grand jury has indicted two men for allegedly conspiring to violently rob several pawn shops, currency exchanges, and other retail stores in Chicago and the suburbs.
The robbers wore masks and brandished dangerous weapons in 12 heists from July 2020 to January 2021, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The robbers stole jewelry valued at more than $305,000, as well as more than $22,000 in cash, the indictment states.
Charged with conspiracy to commit robbery are FALANDIS RUSSELL, 25, of Chicago, and TERRANCE WILLIAMS, 24, of Chicago. Russell is currently in law enforcement custody. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday, and he is set to appear for a detention hearing this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert. Williams has been ordered released on bond. His arraignment is set for this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang.
The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by Police Departments in Chicago, Calumet City, Summit, Burbank, Bolingbrook, Round Lake Beach, Hammond (Ind.), Streamwood, and Arlington Heights. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie.
“The charges in this significant case are the result of the strong partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement in the Chicago area,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch. “We will continue working together to hold violent offenders accountable.”
“The defendants are accused of a multistate, violent crime spree with 12 armed robberies in almost as many communities,” said FBI SAC Buie. “The public should feel safer when doing business at local establishments, and we hope they feel secure knowing that justice is being done.”
The indictment identifies the 12 robberies allegedly carried out as part of the conspiracy:
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The charge in the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
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