A federal jury in Chicago on Tuesday found three men guilty in a nine-month robbery spree that prosecutors say terrorized bars, liquor stores and corner markets across the North and Northwest Sides. The crew was accused of storming into businesses with guns drawn, frequently beating employees and customers, and in several incidents firing at workers. The string of heists included an early-morning May 4, 2024 raid on the Irish Nobleman Pub in West Town.
The Verdict, The Charges And The Feds’ Take
After a five-week trial, jurors found Ardaries Harris, 28, Jordan Fox, 26, and Xavier Harris, 27, guilty on nearly every count in a 23-count federal indictment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors told jurors that Fox brandished firearms during nine robberies and that he discharged a machinegun during the Irish Nobleman attack, conduct that the office said carries decades-long mandatory minimum prison terms under the statutes charged. Federal agents credited the work of the ATF, FBI, ICE and the Chicago Police Department in building the case.
Inside The Trial: Video, Cellphones And Chilling Audio
The trial record featured surveillance video, photos and cellphone recordings that prosecutors say tied the men to multiple robberies and to the Irish Nobleman attack. Reporting and court records reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times describe Fox ordering patrons to put their "hands up" and warning he would "drop the switch" before firing at the bar’s owner, who survived and ran across the street to call 911. The Chicago Sun-Times and court filings also describe videos showing the suspects counting cash with a stolen bottle of tequila nearby and a clip in which Ardaries Harris brags, "I'm stackin' this s--- all summer and all winter."
A Long List Of Targets
Federal court records outline 14 robberies or attempted robberies between Aug. 24, 2023, and May 9, 2024, including hits at Ace's Liquor and Tap on West Armitage, Humboldt Haus Liquor, Gladstone Food Mart, the Irish Nobleman Pub and Basil Food & Liquor on North Western. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the crew routinely used stolen vehicles, dark hoods, gloves and masks, and filings say they frequently beat employees and, in four instances, shot at workers during the robberies.
What Comes Next
A fourth defendant, Roosevelt Veal, is expected to face a separate trial, and sentencing dates for the three convicted men have not yet been set, according to court filings and reporting. Prosecutors told jurors they may seek to introduce evidence of other robberies at sentencing to help determine punishment. Defense attorneys did not immediately comment in court, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Why This Case Matters Beyond One Robbery Crew
Prosecutors and federal partners emphasized that the case involved so-called machinegun conversion devices, which can turn semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic weapons. Law enforcement agencies have flagged a recent surge in these devices and say they make robberies and shootings far more lethal, a point underscored in federal enforcement briefings and ATF statements. For investigators, the verdict is part of a broader push to crack down on traffickers and users of conversion devices in the Chicago area and across the country, with the ATF reporting significant year-over-year increases in such recoveries.
