Three California men were charged after allegedly robbing a Beverly Hills jewelry store, making off with $2.6 million worth of merchandise.
Three Long Beach men: Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 31, Ladell Tharpe, 37, and Deshon Bell, 20, were all indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury for allegedly participating in a smash-and-grab robbery where they are accused of stealing $2.67 million worth of jewelry. Their charges included conspiracy and interference with commerce by robbery, ABC 7 reports.
The incident took place on March 23, when the group drove a Kia from Long Beach to Beverly Hills. After smashing the exterior glass several times, they took the merchandise and took to the streets into an alley on foot. Some of the items that were taken included 20 watches, eight rings, 19 bracelets, four necklaces and more.
The Kia they drove was left behind; the vehicle was reportedly reported as stolen four days prior to the robbery. In the midst of the men robbing the store, Vernon’s phone dropped out of his trousers and it ended up being picked up by the police, ABC 7 reports.
Police just arrested the men last month, but the police may have been able to build a case with the men as suspects based on their social media content. Just days after the robbery on March 25, Tharpe posted photos of large stacks of money with a caption that included “robbery gang.” The men are looking at up to 20 years in federal prison.
