Chicago men plead guilty to Elgin robbery
Two Chicago men on Monday admitted to robbing an Elgin electronics store last May.
In exchange for their guilty pleas to the class X felony, Antoine Adams, 39, and Ronaldo Crawford, 34, were each sentenced to 15 years in prison. Each received credit for 299 days in custody.
They must serve at least 50 percent of their sentences before they are eligible for parole.
Adams and Crawford entered a Radio Shack in the 1000 block of Summit Street at about 2:30 p.m. May 15 carrying replica handguns, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Gerber.
Police say they ordered the female clerks to put money from the cashier into a store bag, along with iPhones and laptops. The men then ordered the clerks into a restroom and left through the back door, police said.
Court records show Adams and Crawford also were charged in June 2013 with the armed robbery of a Des Plaines electronics store.
Crawford apologized for the emotional trauma he caused.
"I don't know what's going through your minds," said Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta, referring to the defendants' 2002 armed robbery convictions and pending cases against them.
Fecarotta also mentioned Adams' "God-given" artistic talent, which Fecarotta learned about through defense attorneys and described as "phenomenal."
"It's surprising someone with so much talent would turn to a life of crime," Fecarotta said.