Man sentenced to 25 years for Illinois cell phone store robberies, including Rockford T-Mobile

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Chicago man has been sentenced to 25 years for carrying out multiple armed robberies at cell phone stores throughout Illinois, including one in Rockford.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Jonathan Byars, 26, along with his co-conspirators, carried out six armed robberies and two attempted robberies in 2019 and 2020, threatening and physically assaulting store employees while stealing cash, phones, and other merchandise.

The robberies occurred in Lansing Bloomington, Rockford, Joliet, Coal City, and Mokena, while the attempted robberies occurred in Aurora, and Woodridge, authorities said.

The Rockford robbery, at the T-Mobile store at 2430 Charles Street, occurred in May 2019 .

“Defendant chose and planned to commit not just one armed robbery, but eight separate robberies with multiple employee victims spanning multiple jurisdictions,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora Anderson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “These actions pose a danger to the community, particularly in bringing and using a firearm that was brandished and pointed and used to threaten employees.”

Four other men were convicted as part of the federal investigation into the robbery spree, including Antoine Fulton, 25, of Chicago, who was sentenced to 12 years; Caleb Morales, 24, of Chicago, who was sentenced to 9 years; Israel Hall, 25, of Chicago, who was sentenced to seven and half years; and Vonte Spain, 31, of Chicago, who was sentenced to seven years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.