HAMMOND â A Hammond man who nearly killed a store clerk in 2015 as he carried out a string of violent armed robberies could serve 28 years in prison and pay $723,445 in victim restitution if federal prosecutors get their way at sentencing.
Gregory J. Smith, 28, pleaded guilty in December 2019 before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich to nine felony counts that could carry a maximum penalty of decades in prison.
Smithâs girlfriends, Jessica Tate, of Hammond, and Heather Wright, of Gary, also were charged in the case. They allegedly committed the armed robberies using Tateâs car.
Smith, Tate and Wright carried out the robberies at Nate s Tobacco, 1403 173rd St., and Gallops Marathon, 6502 Kennedy Ave., both on Nov. 13; Witham s gas station, 2847 165th St., on Nov. 14; Boost Mobile, 3506 165th St., on Nov. 16; Hammond Liquors, 7448 Columbia Ave., Manny s Chicago Style Dawgs House, 6217 Kennedy Ave., and Briar East Liquors, 3217 169th St. â all