On Wednesday evening, January 4, 2023, two West Chicago residents allegedly lured an unsuspecting victim to their apartment using a Facebook alias and proceeded to threaten him with a knife and firearm magazine while robbing him of his phone, wallet and keys. Subsequently, they drove the victim to an ATM and forced him to withdraw $300 in cash.
They then dropped off the victim at a random intersection and fled.
Subsequent investigation by the West Chicago Police Department resulted in the apprehension of the two without incident.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury announced yesterday that bond has been set for the second of the accused, a 22-year-old West Chicago woman. Judge Michael Reidy set bond at $250,000 with 10% to apply. Previously, her codefendant, a 20-ear-old West Chicago man, appeared at his bond hearing where Judge Reidy set bond at $500,000 with 10% to apply. Both have been charged with one count of Armed Robbery (Class X Felony) and one count of Unlawful Restraint (Class 3 Felony).
“The allegations that these two defendants lured an innocent man into a laundry room, robbed him at knifepoint and then forced him to drive to an ATM and withdraw money from his bank account are extremely serious,” Berlin said. “With a new year upon us, I assure the residents of DuPage County that my office remains committed to the aggressive prosecution of violent crime. I commend the West Chicago Police Department for their truly outstanding work in the identification and apprehension of the defendants in this case. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sara Henley and Robert Willis for their efforts in preparing a strong case against the two defendants.”
“With only the alias of one of the suspects to work with, through good, solid, police work, our detectives did a great job in piecing this crime together resulting in both suspects being taken into custody without incident,” Fleury said. “I thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his office for their legal guidance and for their consistent efforts in prosecuting violent crimes such as is alleged in this case.”
The next court appearance for both defendants is scheduled for February 2, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge Reidy.
