CHICAGO — Xavier Harris, the fourth individual accused as part of a robbery group responsible for a series of violent incidents targeting liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars across Chicago, has been detained in federal custody pending trial. Federal Judge Andrea R. Wood issued the detention order after overturning a previous decision for his release.
Xavier Harris, 26, was charged with conspiring with his brother and two others to commit robberies at more than a dozen businesses between 2023 and 2024. According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Harris allegedly brandished a gun during three of these robberies, physically assaulting victims, including one incident involving the cashier of a liquor store in the Jefferson Park neighborhood.
Initially arrested last month, Harris was released on an unsecured $10,000 appearance bond along with location monitoring. However, following an appeal from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Judge Wood ordered Harris to remain detained without the possibility of bond.
The three other suspects involved — Ardaries Harris, Jordan Fox, and Roosevelt Veal — have also been detained without bond. All four men have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, robbery, attempted robbery, and firearm violations. If convicted, each could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Ardaries Harris, Fox, and Veal face mandatory minimum sentences of thirty years, while Xavier Harris faces a minimum of 21 years.
The charges were made known by several authorities, including Andrew S. Boutros, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in Chicago. The investigation was supported by various law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Illinois State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case is part of "Operation Take Back America," an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime. It was coordinated with the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily C.R. Vermylen and Stephanie Stern underscored the alleged threat posed by Xavier Harris in a memorandum, stating, "The nature and circumstances of these serious offenses and the weight of the evidence demonstrate the danger posed to the community by Xavier Harris if he is released."
Authorities remind the public that an indictment does not equate to guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent, and the government must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.