Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Cook County man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison for using a dating app to lure an individual to his home and subsequently beating and stealing the victim’s car and property.
Stepfon Jiggetts, 25, of Harvey, Illinois, was sentenced on Wednesday by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Geraldine D’Souza to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular hijacking, a Class X felony.
“This sentencing highlights the serious nature of carjackings and the potential danger faced by drivers who are taken advantage of by opportunistic criminals,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with law enforcement entities across the state to hold individuals accountable and in the process make our neighborhoods and communities safer.”
According to Raoul, Jiggetts used an online dating app to lure an individual to his home in south suburban Harvey in June of 2019. Once the victim arrived, Jiggetts got into the vehicle and asked the victim to drive him to a nearby gas station. After returning to Jiggetts’ home, an unidentified individual began attacking the victim in an attempt to force the victim out of the car. Jiggetts also began attacking the victim, who was ultimately forced to exit the vehicle. Jiggetts stole the car, as well as the victim’s phone and wallet, which were inside.
Jiggetts was located driving the victim’s car the next morning, leading police on both a vehicle chase and foot chase after he crashed the vehicle. The defendant was found in possession of the victim’s phone at the time of his arrest.
The Harvey Police Department assisted in investigating the case.
“We commend the efforts of the Attorney General and the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau in successfully prosecuting the case against Stepfon Jiggetts,” Harvey Police Chief Cameron Biddings said. “The collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the Attorney General’s office is crucial in ensuring justice for victims of such heinous crimes. We are committed to working together to protect our community and hold offenders accountable.”
Assistant Attorneys General Jonathan McKay and Daniel Weiler prosecuted the case for Raoul’s Criminal Prosecutions Bureau.
