3 men convicted in violent robbery spree targeting Chicago liquor stores, convenience stores, bars

Three men have been convicted of a string of violent robberies targeting liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago in 2023 and 2024.

Xavier Harris, 27, his brother Ardaries Harris, 28, and Jordan Fox, 26, were convicted of conspiracy, robbery, and weapons charges, following a five-week trial in federal court, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros' office.

Federal prosecutors said they were responsible for robbing or attempting to rob 14 liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars between Aug. 24, 2023, and May 9, 2024:

• Aug. 24, 2023: Ace's Liquor and Tap, 4400 block of West Armitage Avenue.
• Jan. 10, 2024: A&R Food Mart, 5900 block of West Grand Avenue.
• Jan. 11, 2024: Central Extra Value Food and Liquor, 2900 block of North Central Avenue.
• Jan. 13, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
• Jan. 15, 2024: Mr. P Beverage Depot, 2000 block of West Division Street.
• Jan. 15, 2024: Before You Go Liquor, 1900 block of West Fullerton Avenue.
• Jan. 15, 2024: Clybourn Market, 2800 block of North Clybourn Avenue.
• May 3, 2024: Humboldt Haus Liquor, 2900 block of West North Avenue.
• May 3, 2024: Gladstone Food Mart, 5700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
• May 4, 2024: Irish Nobleman Pub, 1300 block of West Erie Street.
• May 7, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street.
• May 7, 2024: El Trebol Liquors and Bar, 1100 block of West 18th Street.
• May 7, 2024: Community Food and Liquor, 5500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
• May 9, 2024: Basil Food & Liquor, 7700 block of North Western Avenue in Chicago.

Chicago police have said that during the robbery of the Irish Nobleman Pub, four men robbed customers at gunpoint and cleared out the cash register, and pistol-whipped two victims. Federal prosecutors said Fox shot at one of the victims using a Glock handgun that had been converted into a machine gun using a switch device.

The pub's owner, Declan Morgan, said he remembers two cars being hit by the gunfire.

"They were shooting at me. I was going to lose my life over $250?" he said. "The city wasn't doing anything, the police couldn't do anything, but the feds came in and did it."

Morgan says he's had half a dozen crimes happen at his bar and no one was charged in either. So he contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who launched a federal investigation for this robbery.

"Me and my staff went down ... testified a couple weeks ago. We've been on it, he said.

After the shooting, Morgan says he lost four employees and has been short-staffed since. He says he tried to implement some security measures like bulletproof glass and they have become a credit card-only bar.

"We actually moved. We had a newborn. We moved to the suburbs. I put my buildings up for sale here because I just ... the city is not helping us," Morgan said.

Two years later, he says the guilty verdicts don't erase what happened, but they do bring a measure of closure for him, his employees, and the customers who lived through that night.

Fox and the Harris brothers now face up to life in prison when they are sentenced.

A fourth defendant, Roosevelt Veal, 28, will be tried separately. His trial date has not yet been set.