The Brief
- Quintez Smith-Stewart, 26, of Aurora, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbing a retail store while dressed as Santa Claus in December 2022.
- The suspect threatened a cashier, stole $300, and fled in a stolen vehicle, which was later traced back to him through DNA found in a Santa hat.
- Smith-Stewart will also serve one year of mandatory supervised release after his sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
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.…