Left behind by burglary crew, repeat felon gets federal prison time for carrying gun during Lincoln Park break-in

Narveal Raggs, 27, was recently sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall after Raggs pleaded guilty to carrying a gun during an attempted smash-and-grab burglary at a Lincoln Park liquor store in November 2024.

The incident occurred at Lakeside Food Wine and Spirits on North Halsted Street, where Raggs and several accomplices tried to break in. When Chicago police arrived in response to a 911 call, the crew fled in multiple getaway vehicles, leaving Raggs behind. He attempted to escape on foot, throwing a loaded Glock 19 semiautomatic pistol onto the roof of a nearby building before being apprehended by officers.

The firearm Raggs discarded was no ordinary handgun – it had been modified with a “switch” device to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull, effectively turning it into a machine gun. The weapon, reported stolen in Sacramento, California, earlier that year, was also linked to two separate Chicago shootings. However, there was no concrete evidence connecting Raggs to those incidents.

In addition to the Lincoln Park burglary attempt, Raggs was also allegedly involved in two other armed burglaries prior to his arrest. Surveillance footage and police reports connected him to break-ins at City Food Market in Calumet City and Fairplay Foods in Chicago, where ATMs were stolen using a Jeep and firearms were brandished at employees.

Raggs has a history of gun-related arrests and convictions dating back to 2016, including charges for being an armed habitual criminal and reckless discharge of a firearm. Released on parole in January 2024, he engaged in criminal activities within months, leading to his current incarceration.

The sentencing documents highlighted Raggs’s repeated involvement in criminal behavior, arguing for a sentence at the high end of the federal guidelines range. Despite his prior record and the severity of the charges against him, Raggs was not charged in connection with the other armed burglaries he was linked to.

Overall, Raggs’s case serves as a reminder of the consequences of illegal possession of firearms and the dangers associated with engaging in criminal activities. His sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions and aims to deter others from following a similar path.