What police first treated as a high-stakes highway stickup outside Elmhurst is now being described by DuPage County prosecutors as a staged robbery involving an allegedly bogus claim of $1.5 million to $2 million in missing jewelry. The reported heist triggered a multi-agency emergency response across several western suburbs before investigators concluded the scene had been fabricated, according to a county news release. Two suburban men are now charged and were released after their first court appearance, with their next date set for March 23, 2026.
How Prosecutors Say The Highway Heist Was Set Up
In a post by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, prosecutors say Pezhman Gilani Yahyavi, 46, allegedly drove his vehicle off the roadway on Sunday and directed Mahmood Bashang, 30, to call 9-1-1 to report an armed robbery on the highway. The criminal complaint charges each man with one count of disorderly conduct - false report of a crime, a Class 4 felony, and alleges the 9-1-1 call and staged roadside scene were intended to mimic a real armed attack.
What They Told Police And The Rush To Respond
As reported by Patch, Bashang told a dispatcher that he and Yahyavi were jewelry vendors driving back from a Rosemont jewelry show when three people robbed them of roughly $1.5 million to $2 million in mostly 14K gold. Elmhurst Police Chief Michael McLean said investigators later determined the scene had been staged, after officers, detectives and emergency personnel from Elmhurst, Bensenville and Rosemont had already devoted significant time and resources to the supposed robbery.
Felony Disorderly Conduct And Potential Penalties
Per the Illinois Compiled Statutes, disorderly conduct includes knowingly transmitting a false report to a public official. Violations under that subsection are classified as a Class 4 felony, carrying possible penalties of one to three years in prison and fines up to $25,000. The law also allows courts, in certain cases, to order community service or require defendants to reimburse government agencies for the costs of emergency responses.
Released Pending Trial And What Comes Next
Neither man was held after their first court appearance. Prosecutors say the disorderly conduct charge is not detainable under state law, so both defendants were released while the case moves forward. Their next hearing in DuPage County Circuit Court is set for March 23, 2026, as reported by Patch.
Prosecutors Warn On Hoaxes As Case Proceeds
In the county post, DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin said filing a false police report "not only wastes critical law enforcement resources, but can result in innocent individuals being wrongfully arrested and charged." The office noted that the complaint consists only of charges and does not constitute proof of guilt. Both defendants remain presumed innocent while the case works its way through the court system.
