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MONTGOMERY, Ill. - An Aurora man who took a page out of the Grinch's playbook by dressing as Santa Claus to rob a retail store in December 2022 has learned his prison sentence.
What we know
Quintez Smith-Stewart, 26, was sentenced to five years in prison earlier this month following an aggravated robbery in December 2022.
The Montgomery Police Department responded to the robbery at a retail store on Douglas Road.
A cashier told police a man wearing a Santa hat that was pulled over his face approached her and threatened to harm her if she didn’t open the register.
The cashier complied, and the suspect left with $300, police said. He then drove off in a stolen vehicle.
Authorities located the vehicle shortly after and found the Santa hat inside. DNA evidence recovered from the hat helped police identify Smith-Stewart as the suspect.
Quintez Smith-Stewart, 26, of Aurora.
A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody to await trial.
"Smith-Stewart had a different interpretation of the holiday spirit when he used a Santa hat to steal money from a local business owner. It is fitting that he will spend several Christmas holidays in prison as a result of his criminal actions," said state's attorney Eric Weis.
What's next?
Smith-Stewart will serve five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
He will also serve one year of mandatory supervised release after completing his sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to the state’s attorney.