Five-week trial results in federal jury convicting three members of violent robbery crew responsible for robbing or attempting to rob 14 stores and bars in Chicago (DOJ)

CHICAGO - A federal jury has convicted three members of a robbery crew responsible for violently robbing or attempting to rob 14 liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago.

XAVIER HARRIS and his brother, ARDARIES HARRIS, conspired with JORDAN FOX to rob more than a dozen Chicago businesses in 2023 and 2024. The robbers used stolen cars as getaway vehicles, wore masks and gloves, and brandished firearms in the heists. In some of the robberies, members of the crew fired shots from machine guns.

After a five-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on July 21, 20226 convicted Xavier Harris, 27, of Chicago, Ardaries Harris, 28, of Chicago, and Fox, 26, of Chicago, of conspiracy, robbery, and firearm offenses. The jury found that Jordan Fox brandished firearms in 9 of the robberies; Ardaries Harris brandished firearms in 8 of the robberies; and Xavier Harris brandished firearms in 3 of the robberies. The jury also found that Jordan Fox discharged a machinegun during the robbery of the Irish Nobleman Pub on May 4, 2024, and that Ardaries Harris aided Fox's discharge of a machinegun. The convictions carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

According to evidence presented at trial, the three defendants conspired to commit the following robberies or attempted robberies in Chicago:

1. Aug. 24, 2023: Ace's Liquor and Tap, 4400 block of West Armitage Avenue.
2. Jan. 10, 2024: A&R Food Mart, 5900 block of West Grand Avenue.
3. Jan. 11, 2024: Central Extra Value Food and Liquor, 2900 block of North Central Avenue.
4. Jan. 13, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
5. Jan. 15, 2024: Mr. P Beverage Depot, 2000 block of West Division Street.
6. Jan. 15, 2024: Before You Go Liquor, 1900 block of West Fullerton Avenue.
7. Jan. 15, 2024: Clybourn Market, 2800 block of North Clybourn Avenue.
8. May 3, 2024: Humboldt Haus Liquor, 2900 block of West North Avenue.
9. May 3, 2024: Gladstone Food Mart, 5700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
10. May 4, 2024: Irish Nobleman Pub, 1300 block of West Erie Street.
11. May 7, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
12. May 7, 2024: El Trebol Liquors and Bar, 1100 block of West 18th Street.
13. May 7, 2024: Community Food and Liquor, 5500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
14. May 9, 2024: Basil Food & Liquor, 7700 block of North Western Avenue in Chicago.

The government expects it will introduce evidence of additional robberies in the Chicagoland area at sentencing, which the government will ask the Court to consider in determining the appropriate sentence.

The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, the Illinois State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service's Great Lakes Regional Task Force. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily C.R. Vermylen, Stephanie Stern, and Jalan Jaskot.

The verdict was particularly important because this case involved charges that carried a 30-year mandatory minimum for use of a machinegun during a crime of violence, given the defendants' use of machinegun conversion devices.

"Machinegun conversion devices turn semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, capable of firing multiple bullets at the single pull of a trigger," U.S. Attorney Boutros said. "They have proliferated on the streets of Chicago. The office will continue to prosecute the use of these lethal weapons vigorously."

A fourth defendant charged in the case-ROOSEVELT VEAL, 28, of Rockford-will be tried separately. Veal's trial date has not yet been scheduled.