Berwyn man indicted in connection with cell phone store robberies

A federal grand jury has indicted a Berwyn man for allegedly robbing cell phone stores in the Chicago suburbs.

Ocie Banks Jr. allegedly brandished a firearm in three robberies and one attempted robbery in late 2020 and early 2021, according to an indictment unsealed Jan. 20 in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The heists and attempted heist occurred at Metro by T-Mobile stores in Cicero and Berwyn, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release.

The indictment charges Banks, 33, with three counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and four counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Banks pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in federal court, the release stated.

Each robbery and attempted robbery is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each firearm count carries a mandatory seven-year sentence.  If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. sentencing guidelines.