Chicago — A federal grand jury in Chicago has returned criminal charges against a man and woman who allegedly robbed five convenience stores last year, officials said Monday.
Kishawn Brownlee, 26, and Equesha Butler, 29, are charged with a total of five counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce, according to the US Attorney’s office in Chicago.
The robberies of 7-Eleven stores began early on April 14, at the 3800 North Kedzie location, according to Chicago police records. CPD released a community alert about the robbery pattern after three more 7-Eleven locations were robbed between 1 a.m. and 1:40 a.m. on July 29 at 2366 North Damen, 4771 North Elston, and 4346 North Kimball.
CPD’s alert said the robbers took money, tobacco products, and the store clerks’ wallets and phones during the holdups. At the time, Chicago police said two men and a woman armed with handguns with extended magazines were involved in the robberies.
Federal officials said a fifth 7-Eleven at 661 South Blvd. in Oak Park is also part of the crime pattern.
The grand jury returned charges against Butler in all five robberies. Brownlee is charged in the Oak Park and Kedzie cases, according to the federal indictment, which was unsealed Monday. Each count is punishable by a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
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