Long Beach man who allegedly staged BH jewelry robbery faces sentencing

A Long Beach man is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday for his part in the daylight robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store in which nearly $2.7 million worth of merchandise was stolen — and his dropped the cell phone at the scene.

Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, pleaded guilty in August to one count of interference with commerce by robbery — a federal Hobbs Act felony, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to his plea agreement, on March 23, 2022, Vernon committed a robbery of the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills store. Vernon used heavy tools to smash the store’s window while employees were present, causing trauma to the people inside the store.

Vernon then removed jewelry and other items from the store’s windows, valued at nearly $2.7 million. The merchandise consisted of approximately 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings and 20 watches, court documents state.

After the robbery, Vernon and his accomplices left the store, leaving behind their Kia vehicle — which had been reported stolen from Long Beach four days before the robbery, documents show. During the robbery, Vernon’s cell phone fell out of his pocket while he smashed the store’s window and was later recovered by law enforcement, according to an affidavit filed in LA federal court.

Two days after the robbery, one of Vernon’s accomplices posted numerous photos on his Instagram account that included large stacks of cash and a message praising his “robbery gang,” court documents state.