Three robbers who carried out a £2 million heist on a high-end jewellery store in Beverly Hills, and later bragged about their criminal activities on Instagram, have been jailed in California, authorities said on Monday.
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The thieves, armed with sledgehammers and crowbars, targeted the store in 2022, stealing necklaces, bracelets, and watches. During the brazen daylight robbery, one of the men, Jimmy Lee Vernon, 33, dropped his mobile phone, which became a crucial piece of evidence for investigators. Their case was further bolstered by the ringleader, Ladell Tharpe, 39, who posted images of cash on Instagram just two days after the raid, captioned “Robbery Gang.”
Vernon and their accomplice Deshon Bell, 22, admitted to one count of robbery and were sentenced last February. Bell received a one-year prison term, while Vernon was sentenced to six years and eight months. Tharpe, who was sentenced on Monday, will serve seven years in federal prison after also admitting to the robbery.
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Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally stated, “Brazen criminal action that directly targets our small businesses in Los Angeles County will not be tolerated. The consequences for such actions are severe and penalised accordingly.”
