Leader of phone store robberies gets 57-year sentence

A 32-year-old Park Forest man received a 57-year prison sentence for his role in a spree of violent phone store robberies in 2013 throughout the suburbs.

Eric Curtis was convicted by a jury last year for leading and organizing a crew of robbers who targeted phone stores in Addison, Norridge, Deerfield and Woodridge.

Curtis supplied his cohorts with guns and was responsible for targeting stores and planning the robberies, prosecutors said. Curtis was also instrumental in selling the proceeds from the robberies, authorities said.

The robbers would enter the stores, brandish firearms and order employees and customers to the back of the store at gunpoint. The robbers would then take as many cellphones as they could fit into duffel bags they brought along.

Seven other people already pleaded guilty for their roles in the criminal operation.

Curtis will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence.