CHICAGO – A five-time convicted felon has received two more convictions after pleading guilty to a string of car burglaries, mostly in the West Loop. Jeffery Morgan’s decision to get distinctive facial tattoos and occasionally target Teslas that take pictures of anyone who gets into the car contributed to his downfall.
In June last year, prosecutors charged Morgan with 10 counts of burglary, alleging he broke into nearly a dozen cars over several months. Because Chicago police said they found a machine gun under the seat of Morgan’s car when they arrested him, prosecutors also filed an even more serious charge: Class X armed habitual criminal.
During his first court appearance last year, prosecutors accused Morgan of:
- Breaking into a Tesla in the 700 block of West Lake to take credit cards, $300 cash and a Coach wallet on November 14, 2022.
- Burglary of another Tesla in the 700 block of West Lake on January 14, 2023, taking a wallet and AirPods.
- Entering an unlocked Jeep in the 1300 block of West Randolph and taking Air Jordans and three purses on Feb. 2, 2023.
- Breaking into a Mercedes in the 700 block of West Fulton to take computers and clothing on February 5, 2023
- Targeted another Tesla on April 15, 2023, in the 600 block of West Montrose, with a bag, iPhone and cash.
- Burglary of an off-duty Joliet police officer’s vehicle in the 800 block of West Kinzie on May 20, 2023. He allegedly took the officer’s firearm from the glove compartment.
- Breaking into another Tesla in the 800 block of West Kinzie on May 24, 2023, to take $4,000 worth of audiovisual equipment.
Then, in late May of last year, Chicago police saw a Mercedes linked to the burglaries enter a parking lot in the 800 block of West Kinzie.
They allegedly watched as Morgan stole a bag of credit cards and baby formula from a Cadillac and then broke into a Kia, with another gun. Prosecutors say he ran away when officers tried to arrest him.
A few days later, he allegedly broke into a Cadillac in the 700 block of West Grand. And two weeks after that, he stole a briefcase, harmonica set, scarf and jacket from a Tesla in the 200 block of North Desplaines, prosecutors alleged.
Eventually, Chicago Police detectives attached a GPS device to a car linked to the burglar and tracked it to the 700 block of West Fulton. Prosecutors said Morgan ran as they walked to his car, but police caught up with him.
After taking him into custody, they found a gun sticking out from under the driver’s seat of his car, prosecutors said. None of the guns were taken in the burglaries, according to court records. And prosecutors said it had a fully automatic switch on it, allowing it to fire automatic gunfire like a machine gun.
On Thursday, Morgan pleaded guilty to two of the burglaries and prosecutors agreed to drop all other charges as well as an aggravated flight charge he picked up while in custody, court records show. Judge John Lyke sentenced him to two nine-year prison sentences to be served concurrently.
However, the sentence will be reduced to 4½ years for good behavior, and will be reduced by an additional 1,512 days of credit that Morgan has earned since his arrest 16 months ago, according to court records. He can expect to be out of prison in just over four months.
His previous felony convictions include burglary cases in 2018, 2013, 2012 and 2009. In 2017, he was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
