DuPage County Judge imposes long sentence for repeat offender’s violent crimes
WHEATON, Ill. – A Chicago man has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for committing armed robberies at a gas station and a convenience store while on parole. Robert Howard, 31, was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of armed robbery with a firearm, a Class X felony. His sentence reflects both the severity of his actions and his previous criminal history, which warranted an extended term under state law.
The incidents took place on June 15, 2021, when Howard robbed a Speedway gas station located at 5004 Fairview Avenue in Downers Grove. At approximately 2:42 p.m., he entered the establishment, grabbed an item from a cooler, and approached the register. Howard displayed a firearm tucked in his waistband and demanded that the clerk open the cash register. He threatened, “Open the register. I’m gonna shoot you if you don’t give me the money.” When the clerk struggled to access a second register, Howard seized two packs of Newport 100 cigarettes and fled the scene.