One suspect in a robbery scheme that targeted two elderly casino winners last February was recently arrested, while his alleged accomplices remain free after they reportedly stole a bag containing steak and lobster instead of the $130,000 in cash the couple won at an Illinois gaming property.
The victims were targeted at Rivers Casino Des Plaines and followed to their Fox Lake, Illinois residence on February 10. Upon reaching their home, approximately 38 miles from the casino, one of the robbers brandished a handgun and snatched a paper bag from the male victim, who was then pushed to the ground, according to the Lake and McHenry County Scanner. The culprits fled the scene in a nearby vehicle.
However, the robbers did not check the contents of the bag. The female victim had hidden the cash in her walker, and the stolen bag merely contained leftover food.
Police were notified and, using the getaway vehicle’s license plate number, identified two suspects. Michael Britton, 27, of Chicago, was arrested on August 28 and 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 said this week.
During Britton’s recent court appearance, Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak commented on the victims’ wit, saying, “I guess in their own way, [they] outsmarted the bad guys.”
The second suspect, Aramie Kent of Maywood, Illinois, is still at large, with a judge having issued a warrant for his arrest. Police also confirmed that a third suspect engaged with the couple at the casino and participated in the robbery plot; this individual is also currently evading capture.
In another incident, an assault at the Tropicana Atlantic City resulted in a woman losing consciousness and a man being threatened with a knife on Sunday. The female victim suffered kicks and punches to the head during the altercation, though her current medical condition remains unknown.
Security personnel intervened to defuse the situation, leading to the arrests of Damian Pineryo, 35, of Hazlet, NJ, and Keila Diaz, 47, of Freehold, NJ. Both face charges of aggravated assault. Additionally, Diaz was charged with simple assault, while Pineryo faces charges for unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and making terroristic threats.
The altercation occurred in the Quarter, a section of the casino featuring restaurants and retail stores. The cause of the fight remains unclear, and it has yet to be determined if any other individuals will be charged, according to the Daily Voice.
