A Long Beach man who prosecutors say took part in a $2.6 million smash-and-grab robbery at a Beverly Hills jewelry store, then posted incriminating evidence to Instagram, received a 7-year federal prison term on Monday.
Ladell Tharpe, 39, pleaded guilty in September to one charge of interference with commerce by robbery, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He was also ordered to pay $2.67 million in restitution during the sentencing hearing in federal court in Los Angeles.
He’s the last of three defendants to be sentenced in connection with the robbery, which unfolded on March 22, 2022 at Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills, prosecutors said.
The Beverly Hills robbery
“Tharpe and his accomplices, Deshon Bell, 22, (and) Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, both from Long Beach, as well as an unnamed minor drove three vehicles to a jewelry store in Beverly Hills and used sledgehammers and crow bars to break the glass surrounding the merchandise while employees and customers were present,” according to a DOJ statement.
They ultimately fled with at least 20 watches, 19 bracelets, eight rings, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces and a pair of obelisks, officials said. The stolen baubles were valued at $2.674 million.
One of the cars involved in the robbery had been reported stolen four days earlier, prosecutors added. It was left abandoned in front of the jewelry store.
Incriminating evidence found on Instagram
Tharpe, himself, provided investigators with an important lead, officials said.
“Two days after the heist, Tharpe posted images of large amounts of cash on his Instagram with the text ‘Robbery Gang,’ the statement said. He was taken into custody in March of 2023.
The investigation was also aided by the fact that Vernon dropped his cell phone at the crime scene, prosecutors said. It was recovered by detectives.
Vernon and Bell both pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, according to the DOJ.
Vernon was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $2.67 million in restitution in December.
Bell received a prison term of one year and one day at his sentencing in February of 2024. He was also ordered to pay $2.67 million in restitution.
The status of the juvenile suspect’s case was not available.
The case was investigated by the Beverly Hills Police Department and the FBI.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Joseph McNally said “brazen” crimes targeting small businesses “will not be tolerated.”
“The consequences for such action are severe and penalized accordingly, and I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their exceptional and dutiful work during this investigation,” he said.
Beverly Hills Police Department Chief Mark Stainbrook expressed gratitude to federal law enforcement officials for their help.
“We value our partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and appreciate the investigators who relentlessly pursued and prosecuted those responsible for this crime,” he said.
Brian Day is a Southern California native. He has covered crime, public safety and breaking news in the region for more than 15 years. He joined the Victorville Daily Press in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Man sentenced for $2.6 million smash-and-grab heist at Beverly Hills jewelry store
Reporting by Brian Day, USA TODAY NETWORK / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
