Robber Who Left Phone Behind At $2.7M Beverly Hills Jewelry Heist Sentenced To Prison

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — A Long Beach man was sentenced Thursday to nearly seven years behind bars for his role in a daytime smash-and-grab robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store in which he and his accomplices made off with nearly $2.7 million worth of merchandise while leaving his cellphone behind at the scene.

Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, was sentenced to six years and eight months in federal prison and ordered by U.S. District Judge George H. Wu to pay $2.67 million in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Vernon pleaded guilty in August to one count of interference with commerce by robbery — known as a Hobbs Act crime.

Vernon and several accomplices in March 2022 robbed the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills store. Vernon used heavy tools to smash a display case and remove merchandise valued at nearly $2.7 million — including 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings and 20 watches, according to prosecutors.

Ladell Tharpe, of Long Beach, led cars used to transport the robbers and the getaway vehicle to the store. He also conducted surveillance and served as a lookout for the robbers, prosecutors said.

Vernon and his accomplices ran out of the store, leaving behind their car — which had been reported stolen from Long Beach four days before the robbery. Vernon's cell phone fell out of his pocket while he smashed the store's window and was later recovered by law enforcement, prosecutors said.

Two days after the robbery, Tharpe posted on Instagram several photos, including large stacks of money and a message praising his "robbery gang," according to prosecutors.

Tharpe in September pleaded guilty to one Hobbs Act count. He's due back in court Jan. 6, when he will face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Getaway driver Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach, pleaded guilty to one count of a Hobbs Act robbery. He was sentenced in February to one year and one day in federal prison and was ordered to pay $2.67 million in restitution.

City News Service contributed to this report.