Long Beach man pleads guilty to role in Beverly Hills smash-and-grab robbery, feds say
Authorities say Jimmy Lee Vernon III took part in the robbery of Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills on March 23, 2022
A Long Beach man has pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with his role in a 2022 robbery at a Beverly Hills jewelry store, federal authorities said today.
Jimmy Lee Vernon III was one of multiple people who took part in smash-and-grab robbery at Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills on March 23, 2022, according to the Department of Justice.
Vernon, authorities said, used tools to smash the store’s display case and took roughly $2.7 million worth of merchandise, including several bracelets and necklaces.
Vernon and his accomplices then ran from the scene, leaving behind a Kia vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Long Beach four days earlier, federal authorities said.
Two days later, one of Vernon’s accomplices posted a photo on Instagram featuring a large stack of money and a caption saying: “robbery gang,” according to the DOJ.
Investigators used this, and Vernon’s cellphone, which fell out of his pocket while he smashed the store’s windows during the robbery, to identify the people involved in the crime, authorities said.
Vernon faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and will be sentenced Oct. 10, federal authorities said.
Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach pleaded guilty in December 2023 to one count of robbery for his role in the crime and was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison.
A third defendant, Ladell Tharpe, 39, of Long Beach, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, authorities said. His trial is expected to begin Oct. 8, they added.
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