Oak Lawn Man Charged with Violent Robbery in Hinsdale

A federal grand jury has indicted three men, including one man from Oak Lawn, on robbery and weapons offenses for allegedly stealing expensive watches and jewelry at gunpoint from a Hinsdale jewelry store over a year ago.

According to a press release issued by the US Attorney’s Office, 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 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 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.

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.

McClellan allegedly acted as the “get away driver”, according to court records. At Tuesday’s hearing, the US Attorney argued that McClellan was a danger to the community and should be detained in federal custody.

McClellan allegedly stayed in the car as the getaway driver while the other men entered the store with their weapons.  According to the US Attorney, a security guard was tackled and another employee was threatened with death if she tried to leave. As they left the store, one of the robbers allegedly pointed a gun at an employee’s face.

The US Attorney’s office has said that the Hinsdale Police Department and Oak Lawn Police Department provided valuable assistance according to the US Attorney’s Office.

McClellan’s cell phone provided some evidence of his involvement. He allegedly used the phone to text one of the other men and write “need that ring”.  McClellan is also alleged to have pawned a ring, from the robbery, at a suburban pawn shop for $3,000.

The Georgia connection in the case apparently involves McClellan’s brother, who was not charged in the crime. Cell phone records allegedly revealed that McClellan contacted his brother with messages about delivering some of the jewelry to Atlanta to a jeweler.

The US Attorney told the Judge on Tuesday that the two brothers used coded and discussed different types of guns to be brought on the Atlanta trip.  In one of the texts, McClellan allegedly mentions one of his co-defendants.

Despite the US Attorney’s request, the Judge denied a request to detain McClellan and released him on a $150,000 bond to his mother’s custody. McClellan was also ordered to surrender his Firearm Owner’s Identification Card.

McClellan is missing one leg and used crutches to get in and out of a wheelchair while in court. McClellan does not have any previous felony convictions.  The judge mentioned McClellan’s disability and his clean record in deciding to release him on bond.

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.