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Long Beach Man Pleads Guilty in $2.7 Million Jewelry Heist, Flaunts Stolen Goods on Instagram October 08, 2024 (0 comments)
Los Angeles, CA--A Long Beach man has pleaded guilty to his role in a $2.7 million robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store, later displaying stolen goods on Instagram. Ladell Tharpe, 39, admitted to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, violating the federal Hobbs Act.
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A report by the Long Beach Post stated that the robbery occurred on March 23, 2022, when Tharpe, Deshon Bell, 22, and Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, targeted Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills. Vernon smashed the store's display cases with heavy tools, while Tharpe acted as a lookout and directed the robbers' vehicles to and from the scene.
Per the report, court records show Vernon stole nearly $2.7 million worth of jewelry, including bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings, watches, and other valuables. The robbers fled on foot, abandoning a stolen Kia nearby. Vernon's phone, which fell out during the robbery, was recovered by law enforcement, contributing to their identification.
Two days after the incident, Tharpe posted images on Instagram showing large stacks of money and referencing the robbery, according to federal prosecutors.
Tharpe, who has been in custody since March 2023, is scheduled for sentencing on January 6 and could face up to 20 years in federal prison. Bell and Vernon also pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery.
Bell was sentenced to just over a year in prison and ordered to pay $2.67 million in restitution. Vernon’s sentencing is set for December.
Learn more in the report by Long Beach Post.