Chicago Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Two Retail Store Robberies in Illinois and Indiana

ROCKFORD — A Chicago man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison in connection with a series of retail store robberies in Illinois and Indiana.

In 2016, YASHMINE ODOM and his co-conspirators carried out two violent robberies, using force and pepper spray to coerce store employees while stealing laptops, iPads, smart watches, and cell phones.  During the robberies, Odom or his co-conspirators physically assaulted and restrained the employees.

On Dec. 10, 2016, Odom and his co-conspirators traveled to the Valparaiso Simply Mac store in Valparaiso, Ind., and forced store employees to the back of the store.  Odom stayed in the car as the getaway driver while his co-conspirators carried out approximately $50,000 worth of stolen merchandise. 

On Dec. 16, 2016, Odom traveled with eight co-conspirators to the Cherry Valley Simply Mac store in Cherry Valley, Ill.  Odom and his co-conspirators forced employees to the back of the store, pepper sprayed one of them, and stole two computers. 

Odom, 38, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and robbery charges.  U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard imposed the four-year sentence Wednesday after a hearing in federal court in Rockford.

The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation.  The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.