A Chicago man is facing a third robbery charge after allegedly attacking and robbing a casino patron in River North—while already out on pretrial release for robbing shuttle bus riders leaving another casino in Chinatown.
Willie Greenwood, 27, now stands accused in three separate robbery cases, all targeting victims who had just visited local casinos.
Greenwood was initially held in March following the Chinatown robbery case. But one month later, Judge Timothy Joyce released him without requiring electronic monitoring, according to court records.
March Casino Shuttle Robbery – Chinatown
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On the night of March 12, a Chicago police tactical team patrolling Chinatown was on alert for a vehicle involved in three earlier robberies. Around 11:30 p.m., they spotted a black Hyundai Tucson on the 200 block of West 23rd Street that matched the suspect description.
Greenwood was behind the wheel. After permitting officers to search the car, police say they discovered a BB gun pistol in the glove box.
Just moments earlier, a 65-year-old man had reported being robbed at gunpoint while walking home from a casino shuttle. The masked robber stole $105, including five $20 bills, and rummaged through the victim’s pockets before fleeing.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Greenwood exiting his car and running along the 200 block of West 24th Street around the time of the robbery. When initially questioned, he denied leaving the vehicle but later admitted it was him in the footage, claiming he was searching for his girlfriend’s car.
Police found $400 on Greenwood—including five $20 bills—and the victim positively identified him. Judge Deidre Dyer ordered him held for armed robbery, but a month later, Judge Joyce released him pending trial, without electronic monitoring.
June Robbery – River North
Less than two months after his release, Greenwood allegedly struck again.
On June 6 at 12:48 p.m., prosecutors say Greenwood attacked a 40-year-old Asian man in a parking garage at 50 East Ohio Street, next to Bally’s casino. When the man hesitated to hand over his valuables, Greenwood allegedly punched and kicked him in the head and body, stealing $2,500 in cash and credit cards. The victim required medical attention for his injuries.
“He was just released on a pending armed robbery and has now committed another violent robbery,” remarked Judge James Murphy III, who ordered Greenwood detained in the new case.
Third Robbery Charge Filed
Before detectives linked Greenwood to the River North attack, prosecutors had already charged him in yet another casino-related robbery from March 12—the same day as the previously mentioned Chinatown case.
In this instance, a 48-year-old man walking near 23rd Street and Wentworth was approached by Greenwood, who tapped him on the shoulder and demanded money. When the man tried to flee, Greenwood allegedly punched him in the face, knocking him down. He then showed the butt of a handgun tucked into his waistband, prompting the victim to surrender about $200.
Greenwood now remains in custody as he faces charges in all three robbery cases.
