A man who took part in a $2.7 million smash-and-grab robbery at a Beverly Hills jewelry store in 2022 was sentenced to prison on Thursday, according to prosecutors.
In a news release, the office of United States Attorney Martin Estrada said Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, was sentenced to 6 years, 8 months in prison on Thursday, months after he pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery.
Vernon, who has been in federal custody since September 2022, committed the robbery with two others on March 23 of that year.
The robbery took place in broad daylight at the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills store. While employees were present and inside the store, Vernon used heavy tools to smash display cases.
Vernon swiped about 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings and 20 watches — approximately $2,674,600 in value.
The three men then fled the scene, leaving behind a Kia vehicle which was reported stolen out of Long Beach just four days prior.
Vernon’s cellphone fell out of his pocket during the robbery, which law enforcement recovered, according to prosecutors.
One of the accomplices made an Instagram post two days after the robbery in which the men showed off “large stacks of money” and praised the “robbery gang” in a caption.
Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach, was one of the accomplices and is serving a federal prison sentence of one year and one day after a guilty plea.
Ladell Tharpe, 39, of Long Beach, also pleaded guilty. He’s awaiting his sentencing hearing on Jan. 6.
In addition to the nearly seven years in prison, Vernon was ordered by a federal judge to pay $2,674,600 in restitution.
A man who took part in a $2.7 million smash-and-grab robbery at a Beverly Hills jewelry store in 2022 was sentenced to prison on Thursday, according to prosecutors. In a news release, the office of United States Attorney Martin Estrada said Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, was sentenced to 6 years, 8 months in prison […]
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