No Bond For Men Accused Of 2020 T-Mobile Armed Robbery

WHEATON, IL — Two men are being held without bond after they were charged in connection with an armed robbery that took place at a Wheaton T-Mobile store in May 2020.

Imari Paxton, 24, of Chicago, and Marcus Melton, 28, of Lafayette, Indiana, were charged with seven counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated kidnapping, three counts of unlawful restraint and three counts of intimidation. Paxton and Melton were each charged with three and four counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, respectively.

Police say Paxton and Melton were two of three men who came into the T-Mobile store at 801 E. Butterfield Rd. around 10 a.m. on May 30, 2020. One suspect is accused of approaching two employees with a handgun, holding it to the back of one employee's head and demanding merchandise.

According to police, the other two men joined him and took the employees to the back of the store before ordering them at gunpoint to open three safes. Paxton, Melton and the third suspect are accused of stealing 20 cellphones, 15 Apple watches, a tablet and $500 in cash, and then tying the employees up with zip ties before fleeing the scene.

“It is alleged that these two men and two accomplices, violently robbed at gunpoint a T-Mobile store in broad daylight while three female employees were just trying to make an honest living,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Related: T-Mobile Store Robbed At Gunpoint In Wheaton

He added, “In DuPage County we will not allow violent crimes, as is alleged in this case, to take over our communities and anyone suspected of such actions will be aggressively prosecuted.

This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Wheaton Police Lieutenant Brian Gabryel at 630-260-2063.

Melton faces a maximum sentence of 60 years if convicted and is set to appear in court on Oct. 28. If convicted, Paxton faces a maximum sentence of 45 years. He is set to appear in court on Dec. 20.