Sebastian Perez allegedly filmed himself showing off the license plates of an Infiniti G37 and boasting, “We got keys to this b***h!” shortly after reportedly robbing and carjacking two brothers. This social media post became crucial evidence, leading to an eight-year prison sentence for Perez.
On September 21, 2023, just days into Illinois’ cashless bail system, Perez faced Judge Linzey Jones on charges including aggravated possession of a stolen vehicle and fleeing police in Lyons. He was released the next day.
Fifty-three days later, prosecutors stated that Perez and another individual held two brothers at gunpoint as they were entering their Infiniti G37 in the 7000 block of South Hermitage. The victims, aged 19 and 20, also lost their wallets, phones, and credit cards.
Police tracked down the stolen Infiniti within 24 hours, finding Perez allegedly at the wheel. Initially, there was insufficient evidence to directly tie Perez to the armed hijacking. However, a search warrant for his phone revealed new evidence.
Investigators found a photo and video recorded “immediately after” the hijacking, showing Perez inside the car with the incriminating boast. Additional discoveries included text messages where Perez purportedly tried to sell the car and another video of him with the car’s license plates. This digital trail linked Perez directly to the crime, prompting prosecutors to file charges in 2023.
Perez pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular hijacking with a weapon, receiving an eight-year sentence from Judge Neera Walsh. Prosecutors dropped the stolen motor vehicle charges for which he had been on pretrial release during the hijacking.
Ironically, the 20-year-old victim’s social media profile photo at the time showed him smiling with former Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, a notable advocate for Illinois bail reform.
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