Three Men Charged with Violent Robbery of Hinsdale Jewelry Store

CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted three men on robbery and weapons offenses for allegedly stealing expensive watches and jewelry at gunpoint from a Hinsdale store.

The robbers brandished firearms during the heist at Razny Jewelers, 37 S. Washington St., in the western suburb, on March 17, 2017, according to the indictment.  They took more than $200,000 in merchandise, including watches by luxury brands Frederique Constant, Patek Phillipe, and Tudor, the indictment states.  They allegedly sold or disposed of some of the stolen items in the Chicago area and Atlanta, Ga.

The indictment was returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  It charges TOBIAS DIGGS, 24, of Chicago, MARVON HAMBERLIN, 39, of Chicago, and JOSHUA MCCLELLAN, 29, of Oak Lawn, with robbery and robbery conspiracy; transportation of stolen goods; and using, carrying, and brandishing firearms during a crime of violence.

The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and James M. Gibbons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.  The Hinsdale Police Department and Oak Lawn Police Department provided valuable assistance.

According to the charges, the defendants conducted surveillance of the store in advance of the robbery.  They brought hoods, masks and other items to the store to conceal their identities, the indictment states.  The robbers used actual and threatened force against store employees to take the watches and jewelry, before escaping in a Lexus sport-utility vehicle.

McClellan was arrested Friday, and he pleaded not guilty at a Friday afternoon arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney I. Schenkier.  A detention hearing is set for Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. before Judge Schenkier.

Diggs is currently in state custody in DuPage County.  His arraignment on the federal charges has not yet been scheduled.

Hamberlin is not in custody, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The charge of using and brandishing a firearm carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The conspiracy and robbery counts each carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison.  Transportation of stolen goods is punishable by up to ten years.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albert Berry III and Lindsay Jenkins.