Three Indicted After 12 'Violent' North Side Robberies

Three Chicago men were indicted last week on federal robbery conspiracy and other charges relating about a dozen armed hold-ups of retail stores and businesses in 2012.

All incidents occurred on the city's north and northwest side—including three in Logan Square and one in Noble Square—between January and October of last year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tens of thousands of dollars were taken during the robberies in which offenders targeted area convenience stores, currency exchanges and cellular telephone businesses, officials said. Those accused of committing them include Robert L. Berrios, 45; Julio Rodriguez, 31; and David Revis, 32; all of Chicago.

The three were charged Jan. 22 in a 19-count indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury. The charges were announced Jan. 23 by Gary S. Shapiro, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Chicago Police Department assisted in the investigation, the news release indicates.

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No date had yet been set Tuesday for the defendants to be arraigned in U.S. District Court.

Berrios, also known as “Chazzo,” and Revis, who often goes by “Red,” were arrested together on Nov. 6, 2012, as they were about to rob a currency exchange, according to court documents. Rodriguez, known as “Jelly,” was arrested on Dec. 17, 2012, police said. All three were ordered detained in federal custody without bond.

"As part of the conspiracy, the defendants allegedly identified commercial establishments as targets, obtained intelligence on the businesses before striking, and brandished firearms during the robberies," the USDOJ release said. "They allegedly agreed to, and did, physically restrain some employees of the victim businesses with zip ties, and concealed their identity by wearing masks and gloves."

The indictment seeks forfeiture of a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun and 94 rounds of .22 caliber long rifle ammunition that were seized.

It alleges the following robberies in which Berrios was charged alone or together with one of the co-defendants, as noted:

• Jan 23, 2012: Walgreens, 5140 W. Diversey Parkway in Belmont Cragin.

• July 1, 2012: Walgreens, 5935 W. Addison St. near Portage Park.

• July 28, 2012: A currency exchange at 2753 N. Ashland Ave. in Lincoln Park.

• Aug. 15, 2012: A currency exchange at 2814 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Logan Square (Berrios and Revis).

• Sept. 2, 2012: Cellular telephone store at 5355 W. Diversey Parkway in Belmont Cragin.

• Sept. 19, 2012: Cellular telephone store at 1552 W. Chicago Ave. in Noble Square (Berriois and Rodriguez).

• Sept. 28, 2012: Cellular telephone store at 1958 W. Irving Park Road in Northcenter.

• Oct. 2, 2012: Cellular telephone store at 4000 W. Fullerton Ave. near Logan Square (Berrios and Revis).

• Oct. 13, 2012: Cellular telephone store at 3951 N. Kimball Ave. in Irving Park (Berrios and Rodriguez).

• Oct. 16, 2012: Cellular telephone store at 3200 W. Armitage Ave. in Logan Square (Berrios and Rodriguez).

• Oct. 22, 2012: Cellular telephone store at 3935 W. Belmont Ave. in South Irving Park (Berrios and Rodriguez).

• Oct. 27, 2012: Cellular telephone store at 5355 W. Diversey Parkwy in Belmont Cragin.

If convicted, the robbery conspiracy count and each count of intestate robbery are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The felon-in-possession of a firearm or ammunition charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime comes with a mandatory consecutive term of seven years and a maximum of life in prison; each count has a maximum fine of $250,000.

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