A 23-year-old man who joined a group of eight attackers to commit a series of thefts on the Red Line last year, leaving one victim with many fractured bones and a dislocated ankle, has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Vaughn Jackson pled guilty to three charges of robbery and one count of aggravated battery causing grave bodily harm in connection with the January 5, 2025 incidents, according to court records.
The incidents began around 5:15 p.m. near the Garfield station, when Jackson and seven others repeatedly struck and stomped on a 45-year-old man before stealing his phone and other possessions. Prosecutors alleged that CTA security video showed the victim with many broken bones and a dislocated ankle. The ankle issue initially necessitated two surgeries.
According to an original detention order, Jackson demonstrated a very high level of violence, returning to the train car to strike the victim while he was down.
As the train approached the Sox-35th station, the group picked three additional victims — two guys and a woman, all 19 or 20 years old — for the other robberies. Officials stated that the attacks looked to be random and unprovoked. Four days after the attacks, Chicago police published surveillance photographs of the suspects and requested the public for help in identifying them.
Judge Mariano Reyna handed a six-year term. According to state law, Jackson will serve about three years, with credit for the 402 days he has already spent in the Cook County Jail.
Prosecutors also charged a 17-year-old girl with the Garfield attack. Her case was handled in juvenile court, so the outcome is not public.
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