A man accepted his guilt for participating in an armed robbery in a Beverly Hills jewelry store, robbery in which merchandise worth close to $2.7 million was stolenloot that he later showed on social media, authorities said.
Ladell Tharpe, 39, of Long Beachpleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by theft, the United States Attorney’s Office said Monday.
On March 23, 2022, Tharpe, along with Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach, and Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, of Long Beach, as well as other subjects, They committed a robbery at the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills storeauthorities said.
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The role of Tharpe was driving one of the vehicles to the scene used to transport thieves and was later used as a getaway vehicle, according to authorities.
Tharpe also performed surveillance and acted as a lookout for thievesaccording to court documents.
According to the research, Vernon used heavy tools to destroy the store’s display cases while the business employees were present.
Keep reading: $500,000 in jewelry disappears in armed robbery in Los Angeles
Vernon stole jewelry and other items from display cases valued at almost $2.7 million dollarswhich include 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings and 20 watches.
Deshon Bell was another of the drivers responsible for a thieves’ getaway vehicle after the jewelry store robbery was committed.
After the robbery, the robbers ran out of the store and A Kia car was abandoned at the scenewho had a robbery report in Long Beach four days before the raid on the jewelry store was committed, according to the documents.
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During the robbery, Vernon’s cell phone fell out of his pocket while crashing through the store windowand which was later recovered by police, according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Los Angeles.
Two days after the robbery, Tharpe posted on his Instagram site photographs in which he presented large wads of money and a message to praise the band of thieves.
U.S. District Judge George H. Wu sentencing hearing for Tharpe scheduled for January 6, 2025who can face up to 20 years in federal prison.
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Since March 2023, Tharpe remains in the custody of federal authorities.
Vernon and Bell pleaded guilty to one count of robbery.. In February, Wu sentenced Bell to one year and one day in federal prison and ordered him to pay restitution. Sentencing for Vernon, who remains under federal arrest since September 2022, is scheduled for December 5.
Keep reading:
· $500,000 worth of merchandise stolen from Pasadena jewelry store by thieves
· Video: Nearly $300,000 worth of merchandise stolen by thieves who crash a vehicle into a jewelry store in La Verne
· With a sledgehammer, thieves smash display cases to steal pieces from a jewelry store at the Antelope Valley Mall in Palmdale
