California Man Pleads Guilty to Role in $2.7 Million Jewelry Store Heist in Beverly Hills

LOS ANGELES—A Long Beach man pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to participating in the daytime smash-and-grab robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store in which nearly $2.7 million worth of merchandise was stolen—and he dropped his cell phone at the scene. Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery—a federal Hobbs Act crime, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. According to his plea agreement, on March 23, 2022, Vernon committed a robbery of the Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills store. Vernon used heavy tools to smash the store’s display case while employees were present, causing trauma to people inside the store....