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| Arturo Garcia-Gonzalez (inset) pleaded guilty yesterday to five taxi attacks in Spring 2017. |
A 28-year-old Avondale man has pleaded guilty to robbing four cab drivers and trying to kill a fifth during a string of taxi heists across the North Side this spring.
Arturo Garcia-Gonzalez yesterday pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder and four counts of armed robbery, according to court records.
Judge Nicholas Ford sentenced him to five 12-year sentences that are to be served concurrently.
Garcia-Gonzalez was accused of:
• Robbing a 26-year-old cabbie of $150 cash and a cell phone in the 2000 block of West Fullerton on April 15
• Stabbing a cab driver who’s over 60-years-old during an attempted robbery in the 2600 block of North Kimball on April 15
• Robbing a cabbie of $70 and a cell phone in the 3700 block of North Clark Street on April 14
• Robbing a cabbie of $80 and a cell phone in the 2000 block of West Webster while implying that he had a firearm on April 14
• Robbing another cabbie of $600 and cell phone in the 3500 block of West Melrose on April 14
Court records indicate that at least four of the taxis had in-car surveillance systems that captured images of Garcia-Gonzalez. Footage from the Hotel Palomar in River North also played a role in the investigation, according to police.
