A woman who is on federal parole for jewelry store armed robberies was arrested after officers found her in possession of a gun in Zion, prosecutors said.
Felice A. Desilvia, 39, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Eduardo Zermeno said officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle around 9:30 a.m. on April 1 in Zion.
The officers spotted the car disregarding a stop sign.
The car was driven by Desilvia’s boyfriend, who did not have a valid driver’s license.
Zermeno said officers were given consent to search the vehicle and a purse was found in the backseat.
A Walther pistol was inside the purse and it had six rounds loaded in the magazine.
Desilvia admitted the gun and purse were hers, Zermeno said.
Desilvia does not have a valid Firearm Owners Identification card or concealed carry license.
In 2014, Desilvia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay and affect commerce by robbery; and one count of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
She was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to make restitution in the amount of over $200,000.
The case stemmed from Desilvia and two other suspects committing armed robberies in Chicago and Lake Forest targeting jewelry stores, which resulted in over $300,000 of jewelry being stolen, federal prosecutors said.
Lake County Judge George Pappas ordered Desilvia held on a $100,000 bond for her latest case.
Desilvia remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $10,000 cash to be released.
She is scheduled to appear in court on May 11 for a preliminary hearing.