October 5, 2023

JOLIET— Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has announced that Dontavious Harvey, 24, of Dolton, was sentenced today by Circuit Judge David Carlson to 30 years in prison for Armed Robbery (a Class X felony) in two 2019 armed robberies in Frankfort and New Lenox. Harvey also pled guilty to Aggravated Battery (a Class 3 felony) of a fellow inmate at the Will County Detention Center on May 9, 2022, and will serve two years in prison for that offense. The sentences will be served concurrently.

On November 16, 2019, Defendant Harvey, along with two other individuals, confronted a female who was attempting to withdraw money at about 5:45 am from a Chase Bank ATM on LaGrange Road in Frankfort. After blocking the victim’s car by cutting in front of her, the defendants who appeared to be armed with a gun first took the victim’s phone and credit card, and then proceeded to withdraw money from the ATM. Two of the perpetrators entered the victim’s car and, for a more than 3-hour period, engaged in an armed robbery spree during which they purchased items at various stores in the south suburbs by taking cash withdrawals from the victim’s accounts while she remained in the car. The defendants then drove the woman into Chicago where they abandoned the victim and her car, fleeing in a separate vehicle occupied by other offenders. A total of $8,900 was taken from the victim’s accounts.

Thirteen days later, on November 29, 2019, Harvey along with other offenders confronted a male victim in New Lenox at about 6 a.m. as he was walking to his car which was parked in his driveway. The defendants, while masked and believed to be carrying a gun, confronted the victim in his driveway and demanded his debit card. They then placed him in the car they arrived in and for the next four hours kept him covered with a jacket while they engaged in an armed robbery spree, making purchases in the south suburbs and northwest Indiana area and taking cash advances. After the victim’s bank closed the account, the defendants dropped the victim off along the expressway in Hammond, Indiana.

“The victims in these horrific crimes endured indescribable terror at the hands of Harvey and his fellow perpetrators,” Glasgow said. “Innocent, law-abiding citizens not only suffered the horror of a brutal armed robbery, but also experienced the unimaginable fear of not knowing whether they would live or die while these armed and dangerous criminals continued their violent robbery spree in other communities. Harvey’s actions demonstrate his utter lack of humanity.”

Harvey will receive 1388 days credit for time served in the Armed Robbery case, and 515 days credit in the Aggravated Battery matter. He also will serve 18 months mandatory supervised release after completion of his sentence, which will be served at 50 percent.

Glasgow commended Criminal Division Chief Peter Wilkes, Assistant State’s Attorneys Sarah Romero and Mark Shlifka, Victim Services Advocate Mallory Magee, Frankfort Police Department Detectives Jay Sanders and Joe Sroka, and Will County Sheriff Department Retired Detective Brian O’Leary and Sergeant Mike Earnest for their dedication and commitment in this matter.