A Chicago man is facing charges in federal court after being accused of plotting a string of brazen heists targeting armored trucks and ATMs in the city’s suburbs. Brian Snyder, 24, was slapped with a conspiracy to commit robbery charge following a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago.
Snyder, currently cooling his heels in law enforcement custody, is alleged to have worked with a crew to rob two armored trucks in Country Club Hills and Chicago Heights and also attempted to pilfer from ATMs in Lansing, Blue Island, and Homewood. The schemers also took a shot at another armored truck in Country Club Hills but left empty-handed, according to the official complaint.
The complaint details that these heists were pulled off by two to five individuals, all packing heat. After the robbers confronted and relieved armored truck drivers of cash while they serviced ATMs or retail locations,. To make their getaway, the perpetrators reportedly used stolen vehicles, which they would abandon after their escapades.
These allegations came to light thanks to the combined efforts of Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and various federal officers, including Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr. from the FBI, along with officials from the ATF and Chicago Police Department. The prosecution ball is being carried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elie Zenner, Simar Khera, and Kirsten Moran.
It's critical to understand that the charges detailed in the complaint are merely accusations, as the legal system still holds Snyder innocent until proven guilty. A fair shake at trial is his right, where the government must rise to meet the high bar of evidentiary standard—to prove guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt. A guilty verdict on the charge of robbery conspiracy could lead to Snyder facing up to two decades in prison. While the potential punishment may be stern, it's incumbent upon the courts to temper justice with judgment within the framework that federal statutes and advisory guidelines afford them.
