E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
A Long Beach resident, Ladell Tharpe, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his participation in a 2022 robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store. The stolen goods were valued at over $2.6 million, and Tharpe later showcased the proceeds on social media. United States District Judge George H. Wu handed down the 84-month sentence and mandated Tharpe to pay $2,674,600 in restitution.
Tharpe admitted guilt in September 2024 to interference with commerce by robbery under the Hobbs Act, as highlighted by Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. McNally emphasized the intolerance of such criminal acts within Los Angeles County and commended law enforcement partners for their role in the investigation.
Akil Davis, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, remarked on the severity of the crime and pledged continued efforts with local police departments to tackle violent crime. Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark G. Stainbrook affirmed the commitment to community protection and justice, reinforcing the collaboration with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The robbery conducted by Tharpe, accompanied by Deshon Bell, 22, Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, and a minor, involved smashing glass display cases in the presence of employees and customers to seize jewelry merchandise. The robbers executed the operation using three vehicles, including one reported stolen, to breach the store.
The stolen items included numerous bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings, and watches, totaling a value of $2,674,600. After the theft, Tharpe posted images of cash on Instagram with a reference to "Robbery Gang." He has been detained since March 2023.
Both accomplices, Bell and Vernon, admitted to Hobbs Act robbery. In February 2024, Judge Wu sentenced Bell to a year and a day in federal prison with a restitution order of $2,674,000. Vernon received an 80-month sentence a month prior, with a similar restitution amount after his phone was recovered at the crime scene.
The FBI and the Beverly Hills Police Department carried out the investigation, with prosecution managed by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Kevin B. Reidy.
