Chicago Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Robbing Verizon Store
A 25-year-old Chicago man, Jeffery Brooks, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for armed robbery. Brooks pleaded guilty to robbing a Verizon store in Bucktown and pistol-whipping a woman in Rogers Park. Judge Shelley Sutker-Dermer handed him two 18-year sentences to be served concurrently.
Robbery at Verizon Store
On October 18, 2023, Brooks entered the Verizon store at 1652 North Milwaukee. He brandished a BB gun that resembled a Glock handgun and ordered an employee to take him to the phone storage area. Brooks stole 14 iPhones and fled the scene.
One of the stolen phone boxes contained a GPS tracker, allowing the police to track Brooks’ movements. They intercepted him on the Red Line at Garfield and apprehended him near the exit. Despite being initially released due to a miscommunication, officers later found him hiding behind dumpsters with the stolen iPhones and a replica Glock handgun.
Repeat Offender
Interestingly, Brooks was on parole for a similar robbery in 2020 where he stole 14 iPhones using a GPS-tracked device. He was sentenced to six years for that crime but was released after serving two years. His recent conviction will cut his 18-year sentence in half if he behaves in prison, with a current release date set for October 12, 2032.
Brooks’ choice of attire during the Verizon robbery, a hoodie with the words “BAD HABITS,” seems fitting given his criminal history. This case highlights the challenges of repeat offenders and the importance of rehabilitation programs within the criminal justice system.
