Madison County Man Pleads Guilty To Robbing Pontoon Beach Gas Station

Shawn Bequette, 23, a resident of Madison County, Illinois, pled guilty on May 7, 2015, to Hobbs Act Robbery, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Bequette was ordered held without bond pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for September 24, 2015, before the Honorable Michael J. Reagan, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

The investigation revealed that in the early morning hours of October 6, 2014, Bequette robbed a gas station in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. Witnesses to the crime chased Bequette as he left the gas station, subdued him, and called the police. The charges in this case include a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pontoon Beach Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.