West Chicago man sentenced in stick-up of drug dealer
A West Chicago man was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for his role in a 2014 drug deal gone bad in West Chicago.
Zevonshea Smiley, 18, was the sixth and final co-defendant to plead guilty to charges in the case. Smiley pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery.
Assistant State's Attorney Demetri Demopoulos told Judge John Kinsella that Smiley and five other men concocted a plan on July 18, 2014, to steal cannabis by holding up a known dealer in the neighborhood.
Demopoulos said another man called the victim to set up what was supposed to be a drug buy. When the group arrived, Demopoulos said, another co-defendant, Berton Booker, pulled a .357 handgun on the victim and a small group of men with the victim and demanded the drugs, money and some personal belongings.
When the victim produced the cannabis, another man snatched it from the victim's hands, prosecutors said. Smiley patted down the man and went through his pockets. The group then fled and intended to meet back up at another man's apartment to split up the proceeds.
"This was a colossally stupid thing to do for a bag of weed and a fistful of a few dollars. And you're now paying a huge price," Kinsella told Smiley. "I hope you feel shame for being involved in this and deeply regret the choices you've made. Now you're off to spend what's left of your youth in a cage."
Smiley must serve half of the sentence and he receives credit for the 385 days he already has served. Booker, 23, is serving a 21-year sentence. Sir Ronald Wiley, 18, of Carol Stream is serving 12 years. Raequon Nelson, 17, of Maywood is serving 12 years. Raekwan Kelsor, 18, of West Chicago, is serving 10 years. Antonio Morris, Jr., 18, of Berwyn, pleaded guilty to the same charges in January and was sentenced to eight years in prison boot camp.