Man Sentenced to More Than Eleven Years in Prison for Participating in Two Robberies in Rockford

ROCKFORD - A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than eleven years in federal prison for participating in two robberies in Rockford.

THOMAS L. HAWKINS, 38, pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbing a Red Roof Inn and a Mobil gas station, both of which were located in Rockford.

Hawkins admitted in a plea agreement that on Sept. 26, 2020, he was armed with a dangerous weapon that resembled a firearm and pointed it at an employee of the Red Roof Inn while a co-conspirator forced the employee to a rear counter. Hawkins and the co-conspirator stole approximately $1,600 before fleeing the Red Roof Inn.

Hawkins and a co-conspirator robbed the Mobil gas station on Oct. 20, 2020. Hawkins was armed with a firearm and pointed it at an employee while the co-conspirator pushed the employee to a rear area of the store. Hawkins and the co-conspirator stole approximately $1,100 before fleeing the gas station.

U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston on Friday sentenced Hawkins to eleven years and three months in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Chicago Field Office. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.