Second of Four Men Charged with Robbing Wheaton T-Mobile Store Sentenced to 28 Years in the Illinois Department of Corrections

The second of four men accused of robbing at gunpoint a Wheaton T-Mobile store in May 2022 has been sentenced to twenty-eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).

“THIS AFTERNOON, MR. PAXTON LEARNED THAT IN DUPAGE COUNTY WE WILL NOT ALLOW VIOLENT CRIMES TO TERRORIZE OUR COMMUNITIES,” BERLIN SAID

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that the second of four men accused of robbing at gunpoint a Wheaton T-Mobile store in May 2022 has been sentenced to twenty-eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). Imari Paxton, 28 (d.o.b. 12/14/1997) formerly of Chicago, appeared at his sentencing hearing this afternoon in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell, who handed down the sentence. On April 28, 2026, Paxton entered a plea of guilty to one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm, a Class X Felony. In exchange for his guilty plea, the State agreed to not recommend a sentence in excess of thirty-three years in the IDOC. Paxton has been held in custody at the DuPage County Jail since October 26, 2022, after Judge O’Connell granted the State’s motion to deny him bond. On April 23, 2025, one of Paxton’s accomplices, Marcus Melton, 32 (d.o.b. 2/25/1994), formerly of Lafayette, Indiana, entered a plea of guilty to the same count and received a sentence of twenty-one years in the IDOC.

On May 30, 2022, at approximately 10 a.m., three employees at the Wheaton T-Mobile store located on Butterfield Road had just opened the store when one of the offenders, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, entered the store, approached two of the employees behind the counter, pulled out a handgun, put it to the back of one of the employees and demanded merchandise. The defendant and another man, allegedly identified as Brandon Melton, 33 (d.o.b. 10/1/1992) of Dolton, both wearing masks and gloves, then entered the store and the defendant, allegedly Darius Combs and allegedly Brandon Melton then led the employees to the back of the store. Once at the back of the store, one of the offenders pointed a handgun at the employees, took one of the employee’s key rings and opened the stock room that contained approximately twenty cell phones and one tablet. Additionally, the employees were ordered at gunpoint to open two safes containing merchandise and cash. While zip-tying the employees, the defendants threatened to kill them. In all, Paxton, Marcus Melton, allegedly Brandon Melton and allegedly Darius Combs, stole merchandise including approximately twenty cellular telephones, fifteen Apple watches, one tablet and approximately $500 in cash. During the course of the robbery, Paxton, Marcus Melton, allegedly Brandon Melton and allegedly Darius Combs restrained the employees’ hands with zip ties they had brought with them.

“This afternoon, Mr. Paxton learned that in DuPage County we will not allow violent crimes to terrorize our communities,” Berlin said. “It is alleged that Mr. Paxton and his accomplices, violently robbed at gunpoint a T-Mobile store in broad daylight while three female employees were just trying to make an honest living. Thankfully, none of the women were physically injured. I thank the Wheaton Police Department for their outstanding work on this case. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Denis Cahill and Casey Hennessy for their efforts in protecting our community.”

Members of the public are reminded that the complaint against Brandon Melton and Darius Combs contain only charges and are not proof of their guilt. They are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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