Federal Grand Jury Indicts Three Men in Connection With Violent Robberies of Chicago Businesses

CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted three men for allegedly conspiring to violently rob several liquor stores and convenience stores in Chicago.

Charged with federal conspiracy and firearm offenses are ARDARIES HARRIS, 26, of Chicago, JORDAN FOX, 24, of Chicago, and ROOSEVELT VEAL, 26, of Rockford, Ill., and formerly of Chicago.  All three defendants have been ordered detained in federal custody pending trial.

According to an indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the robbers wore masks and brandished firearms in five heists in November 2023 and January 2024:

• Nov. 24, 2023: Veal and a co-conspirator robbed Super Saving Food, located in the 4400 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago.
• Jan. 13, 2024: Harris, Fox, and a co-conspirator robbed Buchanas Food & Liquor, located in the 1800 block of West 47th Street in Chicago.
• Jan. 15, 2024: Harris, Fox, Veal, and a co-conspirator robbed Mr. P Beverage Depot, located in the 2000 block of West Division Street in Chicago.
• Jan. 15, 2024: Harris, Fox, Veal, and a co-conspirator robbed Before You Go Liquor, located in the 1900 block of West Fullerton Avenue in Chicago.
• Jan. 15, 2024: Harris, Fox, Veal, and a co-conspirator robbed Clybourn Market, located in the 2800 block of North Clybourn Avenue in Chicago.

In addition to the five robberies, the indictment alleges that the conspiracy continued until May 4, 2024, and involved additional heists, including robberies of bars in Chicago.  The federal investigation remains ongoing.

The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.  Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago and the Illinois State Police.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily C.R. Vermylen and Stephanie Stern.

The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago.  The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement hub that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois.  The CGIC is an interagency collaboration that brings together - under one roof - federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and intelligence analysts to move quickly to investigate and prosecute violent crimes.

Holding firearm offenders accountable through federal prosecution is the centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative that brings together law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive solutions to the most pressing violent crime problems.  In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.