WHEATON, IL — One of four men charged in the armed robbery of a Wheaton T-Mobile has been sentenced to 28 years in state prison, according to authorities.
Imari Paxton, 28, formerly of Chicago, has been held without bond at DuPage County Jail since October 2022 and was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty in April to one felony count of armed robbery in exchange for a recommended sentence of 33 years or less, authorities said.
“Mr. Paxton learned that in DuPage County, we will not allow violent crimes to terrorize our communities,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release.
The robbery occurred around 10 a.m. May 30, 2022, at the store on Butterfield Road, where a man in a baseball cap and mask entered, pulled out a gun, put it to the back of a worker and demanded merchandise, according to authorities.
READ MORE: 2 Men Wanted In Connection With 2022 Armed Robbery In Wheaton
Paxton and 33-year-old Brandon Melton of Dolton entered the store in masks and gloves, and the pair, along with Darius Combs, led the staff to the back of the store, where one of the men pointed a gun at the workers, took a key ring and opened the stock room, which contained about 20 cellphones and a tablet, authorities said. The employees were ordered at gunpoint to open two safes holding merchandise and cash, according to authorities, who said the workers were zip-tied and the men threatened to kill them.
The four men stole about 20 cellphones, 15 Apple Watches, a tablet and about $500 cash, authorities said.
Marcus Melton, 32, formerly of Lafayette, Indiana, pleaded guilty to armed robbery in 2025 in connection with the case and was sentenced to 21 years in state prison, according to authorities.
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