A man responsible for robbing several pizza delivery drivers in February has been convicted of armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.

The Carbondale Police Department was notified on Feb. 22 by a local restaurant delivery driver that a man had threatened the driver with a knife and demanded of all of the driver’s money and pizza.

Less than one week later, police had Joshua Lewis, 20, of Carbondale, in custody being caught in the act of another attempted robbery.

Advertisement

CPD notified local restaurants on Feb. 26 to be on the lookout for a specific phone number which had been used to place orders that resulted in robberies, according to the Jackson County State’s Attorney press released issued May 4.

The same day, a local restaurant received a call from the number and the police department set up a surveillance perimeter around the delivery destination and an officer rode along with the delivery driver.

“Upon arrival at the delivery location, the defendant began to approach the delivery vehicle and the Carbondale Police officer got out, identified himself as a policeman, and told the defendant to stop,” the release states.

Lewis attempted to flee and was tazed and arrested; his knife was found on the ground beside him. He later admitted to committing the other robberies.

Lewis received two sentences of six years at the Illinois Department of corrections, which will be served concurrently. 

The sentences are day-to-day, which means one day will be taken off his sentence for every day he goes without an incident while in prison. Upon his release, Lewis will have a mandatory supervision period of three years.