CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors have reached a plea agreement with a man accused of robbing 12 convenience stores in Chicago and the suburbs during one week last year. Officials expect to seek a sentence in excess of 14 years.
Terrance Thomas, 20, was on parole for illegally possessing and firing a handgun when he and at least two co-conspirators allegedly went on the seven-day spree that stretched from the city’s North Side to Cicero.
State prosecutors filed charges against him in April 2023, but federal prosecutors decided to step in and charge him with three felonies in connection with one of the crimes: robbery affecting interstate commerce, using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the recently filed plea agreement, the robberies began around 2:42 a.m. on March 27, 2023, at the 7-Eleven, 6800 West North Avenue in Chicago. Thomas and a person identified only as “Co-Conspirator A” allegedly pointed guns at the cashier and took a total of $60 from two registers.
Less than an hour later, Thomas and a person called “Co-Conspirator B” committed a nearly identical robbery at the 7-Eleven located at 1153 West Belmont in Lakeview, the document said. They got $177 there.
Within 15 minutes, Thomas and “A” allegedly robbed another 7-Eleven at 2341 West Belmont. They also robbed the store’s employee. Total taken: $226.
Finally, around 4 a.m., Thomas and “A” allegedly robbed the 7-Eleven at 2366 North Damen of about $70.
Federal officials say Thomas and “A” also robbed:
- 7-Eleven at 954 West Monroe at 1:10 a.m. on March 29, 2023. “Co-Conspirator A” also carjacked one of the store’s customers and drove away with the victim’s 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The duo allegedly scored just $113 in the heist.
- The 7-Eleven at 560 West Grenshaw of $297 at 1:38 a.m. on March 29, 2023.
- The 7-Eleven at 3700 North Broadway at 2:47 a.m. on March 29, 2023. They got away with about $250.
- The 7-Eleven at 6801 North Western at 3:05 a.m. on March 29, 2023. $586 was taken.
- The 7-Eleven at 2741 West Touhy at 3:11 a.m. on March 29, 2023. $260 was taken.
- The Thorntons at 3450 South California at 2:59 a.m. on March 31, 2023. Both men allegedly disassembled three cash registers to access $1,044.
- The Pilot Travel Center, 7501 South Harlem in Bridgeview, at 3:22 a.m. on April 3, 2023. They allegedly took $1,056 after forcing an employee to open the registers.
The robbery that sparked the three federal charges occurred at Thorntons, 2229 South Cicero, at 2:43 a.m. on March 31, 2023. Prosecutors said Thomas held the door open and pointed a gun at the employee while “A,” also pointing a gun at the worker, took $335 from the registers. They escaped in a Hyundai Tucson driven by another person.
Police finally arrested Thomas in early April 2023 after a traffic pursuit that reached 102 mph on the expressways, officials said. The car he was driving, a 2020 Hyundai Tucson, had a stripped steering column and a broken rear side window covered with a plastic bag, suggesting it may have been stolen.
Altogether, federal officials believe the robbery crew took $4,430. By law, the judge must order Thomas to pay restitution upon conviction, according to the plea agreement.
The document said Thomas could face up to 20 years in prison for robbery and using a firearm during a violent crime. The third count, being a felon in possession of a firearm, carries a minimum sentence of seven years with a maximum of life, the agreement stated. Those years must be served consecutively to the other counts.
However, prosecutors said they expect to seek a sentence of 87 to 108 months on the first two charges and a minimum of seven consecutive years for the third count.
