First of two men to plead guilty in armed robbery sentenced to 12 years

An armed robbery that netted some cigarettes has cost a Glen Ellyn man 12 years of his life.

Joshua Phillips, 21, of the 300 block of Alder Lane, was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison for the Nov. 26, 2016, armed robbery of a 36-year-old ride-share company driver. He pleaded guilty last month.

Assistant State's Attorney Nicole Wilkes-English said the victim was approached from behind by Phillips and another man, Alonzo Alexander, around 8:30 p.m. at an apartment complex at 325 Ramblewood Drive.

The two men forced the victim at gunpoint into his car and ordered him to drive to withdraw cash from his bank account, The withdrawal was declined, however, because the victim only had $12 in his account.

So, Phillips instead used his debit card to buy cigarettes while Alonzo, who has also pleaded guilty to armed robbery in the case, pawned the victim's cellphone for $55.

In all, the robbery lasted just more than an hour, prosecutors said, with the victim being taunted with what turned out to be an airsoft gun during the ordeal.

An investigation led by the Glen Ellyn Police Department led to the two men, who were both taken into custody in early December 2016.

"This afternoon, (Phillips) learned that for his role in the armed robbery of an innocent man he will spend the next 12 years behind bars," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement.

Phillips has been held on $1 million bail since his arrest, while Alexander was arrested on a $500,000 warrant. Alexander is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19.