Cook County Man Sentenced to 21 Years in the IDOC for Armed Robbery

THOMAS WAS WEARING A MASK AND JOHNSON WAS WEARING A HOODED SWEATSHIRT. IT IS ALLEGED THAT THOMAS JUMPED OVER THE COUNTER, WENT TO A SIDE ROOM WHERE THE CLERK WAS, GRABBED THE CLERK AND FORCED THE CLERK AT GUNPOINT TO OPEN TWO CASH REGISTERS.

WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced today that the first of two adults charged with robbing a Roselle gas station at gunpoint has been sentenced to twenty-one years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. George Johnson, 25 (d.o.b. 2/2/1996) of the 1000 block of 16th Avenue, Maywood, appeared in court this morning where he entered a plea of guilty to one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm, a Class X Felony in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh, who handed down the sentence. A second man allegedly involved, Jerry Thomas Jr., 19 (d.o.b. 9/8/2001) of Chicago is currently in custody in the DuPage County Jail awaiting trial.

On April 11, 2020, at approximately 9:45 p.m., it is alleged that Johnson, Thomas and an unidentified accomplice entered the Shell station located on Lake Street near Gary Avenue in Roselle. Thomas was wearing a mask and Johnson was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. It is alleged that Thomas jumped over the counter, went to a side room where the clerk was, grabbed the clerk and forced the clerk at gunpoint to open two cash registers. It is alleged that Thomas then removed money from both registers totaling approximately $300. It is further alleged that the third accomplice stole cigarettes from the gas station while Johnson guarded the door holding a revolver in his hand. It is alleged that the three men then exited the store together. Roselle police officers arrived moments later and observed a male, later identified as Thomas, running near the Shell station. Several minutes later Thomas was located hiding underneath a van in the parking lot of a nearby hotel and taken into custody. He allegedly had a mask and approximately $180 on him when he was apprehended. Officers also found a magazine with 9mm ammunition between the Shell gas station and the hotel parking lot, as well as cash on the ground. Thomas was allegedly hiding under a van when he was apprehended. Several days later Johnson was taken into custody on a Lake County arrest warrant.

“This morning, George Johnson took responsibility for his actions in threatening and robbing a gas station clerk at gunpoint,” Berlin said. “While violent crimes such as this can leave a community feeling vulnerable, knowing that those responsible will pay for their crimes can go a long way in restoring a community’s sense of security. I commend the Roselle and Hanover Park Police Departments whose efforts led to the apprehension and detention of Mr. Johnson. I would like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Grace Barsanti for her efforts in ensuring that Mr. Johnson will be held responsible for his crimes.”

Johnson will be required to serve 50% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

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