A former Schaumburg man has been sentenced to 26 years for robbing at gunpoint a Hinsdale Verizon Wireless store in 2022 and a Wheaton Sprint store in 2019, according to DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin’s office.
Stephon Little, 31, who has since changed his name to Isa Al Ahad, received his sentence July 18 from DuPage County Associate Judge Joseph Bugos, handing down a 26-year sentence on the Hinsdale robbery and a 21-year sentence on the Wheaton robbery, to be served concurrently.
As detailed in a press release from the state’s attorney, on June 16, 2022, Little, who was out on bond and on electronic monitoring following his arrest for the Wheaton robbery, entered the Verizon Wireless store at 34 E. First St. just before the business’ 8 p.m. closing armed with a pistol and wearing a black ski mask, gloves and a hooded sweatshirt. He ordered the clerk at gunpoint to fill a bag with approximately 60 Apple products including iPhones, iPads and watches, then fled the store with the merchandise. Little was taken into custody the same day in Ford Heights without incident.
Little entered a guilty plea Feb. 28 to two counts of armed robbery with a firearm, a Class X Felony. He is currently serving a 15-year sentence for three armed robberies of cell phone stores in Cook County that he committed after posting bond in his DuPage County case. Little’s co-defendant in the Wheaton case, Denzel Furance, 25, formerly of Calumet City, was sentenced in February to 23 years after pleading guilty to one count of armed robbery with a firearm.
Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King noted the incident occurred when a lot of people and families were downtown.
“This was a bold robbery that occurred during a nice summer evening in a crowded business district with a Uniquely Thursdays event at Burlington Park,” King commented. “We appreciate the air support provided by the Illinois State Police, which allowed Hinsdale detectives to make a quick apprehension and made the subsequent execution of a search warrant possible. Within hours of the robbery, the gunman was in custody and the property was recovered. I want to recognize State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, who aggressively prosecutes violent crime in DuPage County.”
In a statement, Berlin expressed satisfaction that Little would now spend considerable time in jail.
“The fact that Mr. Little committed four additional armed robberies while out on bond is outrageous. His complete and utter disregard for the rule of law and terrorizing those who were just trying to make a living has finally caught up with him,” Berlin commented. “Violent gun crimes have no place in society and my office will continue to prosecute anyone who commits this type of brazen criminal conduct. We are all thankful none of the employees were physically injured and it is my hope that the survivors of this crime and the community will feel a little safer knowing that the man who terrorized them is now behind bars.”
