Casino Crime Roundup: Robbers Mistakenly Steal Dinner Leftovers Rather Than $130K Jackpot
The suspected accomplices of a robbery conspiracy that targeted two elderly casino winners in February of last year are still at large, but one suspect was recently detained for allegedly stealing a package of steak and lobster instead of the $130,000 in cash that the pair won at an Illinois gaming establishment.
On February 10, the victims were followed to their home in Fox Lake, Illinois, after being targeted at the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines.
Upon arriving at their residence, some 38 miles away from the gaming property, the male victim was shoved to the ground by one of the robbers who produced a weapon and took a paper bag from him, according to the Lake and McHenry County Scanner. After then, the bandits fled and boarded a neighboring car.
But the suspects failed to look inside the bag. The female victim had placed the cash in her walker while the bag stolen by the robbers contained leftover food.
Police were alerted and after finding out the license plate number on the get-away vehicle, identified the two suspects.
Michael Britton, 27, of Chicago, was arrested on August 28. He was charged with armed robbery, aggravated robbery, and robbery of a victim over 60, according to the Fox Lake Police Department.
"The defendants made off with her leftover steak and lobster as opposed to the $130,000,” Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis was quoted this week by the Scanner.
Judge Theodore Potkonjak of Lake County remarked of the victims during Britton's recent court appearance, "I guess in their own way, [they] outsmarted the bad guys."
Aramie Kent of Maywood, Illinois, the second suspect, is still at large. A warrant for his arrest was signed by a judge. According to authorities, a third suspect participated in the heist plan and chatted with the couple in the casino. She is also evading capture.
Arrests Follow an Attack at the Atlantic City Casino
On Sunday, a woman was rendered unconscious and a guy was threatened with a knife during an incident at the Tropicana Atlantic City.
During the battle, the female victim was hit and kicked in the head. Her current health status has not been updated.
After security personnel assisted in dispersing the assault, Damian Pineryo, 35, of Hazlet, New Jersey, and Keila Diaz, 47, of Freehold, New Jersey, were taken into custody. Aggravated assault was the charge against both. Pineryo was charged with unauthorized possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and terroristic threats, while Diaz was also charged with simple assault.
The Quarter, a section of the casino featuring eateries and retail establishments, is where the incident started.
The cause of the altercation was not immediately apparent. According to the Daily Voice, it's still unclear if other people implicated will face charges.
