Men Convicted In Violent Hinsdale Jewelry Store Robbery: Feds

HINSDALE, IL — A federal jury Thursday convicted two men who robbed a Hinsdale jewelry store, attacking employees and making off with $200,000 in merchandise, according to federal prosecutors.

Convicted were Tobias Diggs, 26, of Chicago, and Joshua McClellan, 31, of Oak Lawn. They were accused of stealing watches at Razny Jewelers, 37 S. Washington St., including luxury brands such as Frederique Constant, Patek Phillipe and Tudor. They later sold, tried to sell or dispose of the stolen items in the Chicago area and Atlanta.

Two other people took part in the robbery. One of them is identified as Marvon Hamberlin, 42, of Chicago, who was indicted and is a fugitive. The fourth person has not been identified.

On the day of the heist, McClellan drove the getaway car — a Lexus SUV — while Diggs and others entered the store and pointed the gun at a female employee, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

After the unidentified suspect tackled a store security guard, Diggs hit the female employee with the gun and dragged her by her hair to a back room, while he and others gained access to the store's safe and stole the jewelry, prosecutors said.

After a six-day trial in federal court in Chicago, Diggs and McClellan were convicted of all counts against them, including conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, transportation of stolen goods, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Judge Gary S. Feinerman did not immediately set sentencing dates.

The conspiracy and robbery counts each carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison, while transportation of stolen goods is punishable by up to 10 years.

The firearm conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, as well as a minimum term of imprisonment of seven years, which must be served consecutively to the sentences imposed for the conspiracy, robbery, and transportation of stolen goods convictions, a U.S. Attorney's Office news release said.