Chicago Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing Suburban Stores at Gunpoint
CHICAGO — A federal judge today sentenced a Chicago man to 15 years in prison for robbing suburban retail stores at gunpoint.
REGINALD TAYLOR, 53, committed three armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery in the fall of 2012. Taylor terrorized store employees by brandishing a handgun and threatening to shoot them if they did not comply with his demands. In one of the heists, Taylor physically restrained store employees with their shoelaces. The robberies netted him more than $54,000 in cash and hundreds of cell phones.
Taylor was arrested in Oak Lawn on Nov. 7, 2012, after attempting to rob a RadioShack. He has remained in federal custody since then.
Taylor pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbery and firearm charges. U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo imposed the sentence in federal court in Chicago.
“Our office will continue to be vigilant in investigating and prosecuting armed robbers,” said John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “We will advocate for substantial prison sentences – like the 15-year sentence imposed in this case – in order to keep our communities safe.”
U.S. Attorney Lausch announced the sentence along with Timothy Jones, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Substantial assistance was provided by Police Departments in Elgin, Frankfort, Palos Heights, and Oak Lawn. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeannice W. Appenteng and Lindsay Jenkins.
Taylor admitted in a plea agreement that he committed three armed robberies:
Sept. 20, 2012: T-Mobile store, 200 block of South Randall Road, Elgin.
Nov. 1, 2012: RadioShack store, 21100 block of South LaGrange Road, Frankfort.
Nov. 7, 2012: RadioShack store, 11900 block of South Harlem Avenue, Palos Heights.
Taylor admitted in the plea agreement that he committed one attempted robbery:
Nov. 7, 2012: RadioShack store, 4800 block of West 95th Street, Oak Lawn.
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