Seven Years for Defendant in $2.6m Jewelry Smash-and-Grab
April 14, 25
(IDEX Online) - A third defendant has been sentenced for his role in the $2.6m smash-and-grab robbery at a jewelry store in Beverly Hills, California, USA, in March 2022.
Ladell Tharpe, 39, from Long Beach, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after her admitted one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act).
He and his accomplices used sledgehammers and crowbars to break glass cabinets, terrifying staff and customers at Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills.
They stole at least 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings, and 20 watches.
Tharpe later displayed proceeds of the robbery on his Instagram account, with the text "Robbery Gang," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California.
Another defendant dropped his cellphone at the scene.
"Mr Tharpe terrified his victims during this violent robbery carried out in broad daylight, then shamelessly boasted about it online," said Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office.
Two other defendants, Deshon Bell, aged 22 and Jimmy Lee Vernon II, aged 33, were sentenced to one year and six-and-a-half years respectively in February 2024, for their parts in the raid.