Kiara “Ke Ke” Simmons, a 22-year-old woman from Hometown, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery with a bludgeon. The incident occurred on February 24, 2024, when Simmons carjacked a 39-year-old man, whom she knew from previous prostitution encounters, at gunpoint in the 6900 block of South California Avenue.
According to prosecutors, Simmons took the man’s keys and drove off in his 2010 Subaru Forester with another man in the vehicle. Chicago police officers later spotted the stolen SUV, but Simmons led them on a high-speed chase reaching speeds of over 100 mph on the Eisenhower Expressway. During the pursuit, her passenger threw a pistol out of the window, which was recovered by the police. The chase was eventually called off due to safety concerns.
A few hours later, officers spotted Simmons behind the wheel again, speeding on the Eisenhower Expressway before crashing into another car near Western and Congress Parkway. The collision resulted in injuries to a 24-year-old driver. A police helicopter tracked Simmons and her companion as they fled into a nearby building, where they were ultimately arrested.
Cook County Judge Neera Walsh credited Simmons with 631 days already served in jail, which will be deducted from her 10-year sentence. Her sentence may also be reduced further with good behavior under Illinois law.
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