A Long Beach man has entered a guilty plea to a charge connected to his role in a bold smash-and-grab heist that saw a Beverly Hills jeweler stripped of over $2.6 million in goods. The lift took place in the harsh light of day in 2022. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, Ladell Tharpe, 39, admitted to the federal charge of interference with commerce by robbery under the Hobbs Act.
The heist, executed with a dramatic flourish, came complete with getaway cars and lookouts and was thoroughly orchestrated -- displayed apparently without a second thought by Tharpe on Instagram where he posted pictures flaunting large sums of cash alongside the caption "Robbery Gang," as per the same press release. Tharpe’s role included pre-robbery surveillance, leading the transport vehicles to the scene, and acting as a lookout while his co-conspirators stormed the store. In broad daylight, with employees and customers bearing witness, the robbers armed not with guns but with heavy tools to shatter the glass, managed to lay claim to a variety of jewelry beholding a hefty value.
His co-defendants, Deshon Bell and Jimmy Lee Vernon III, have also pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery each. Bell has already been sentenced on February 26 by United States District Judge George H. Wu to one year and one day in federal prison, with a hefty restitution payment of the full $2,674,600, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Vernon's day for sentencing is set for December 5, while he has been in federal custody since September 2022.
Tharpe, who has also been in federal custody since March 2023, is now awaiting his sentence with a possibility of up to 20 years in federal prison. The judge has scheduled January 6, 2025, for the sentencing hearing. The authorities, including the FBI and Beverly Hills Police Department, swiftly brought the robbers to justice after a thorough investigation. On the case are Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section, ensuring the heavy hand of the law keeps a firm grip on this case.
