Man Gets 12 Years For Robbing North Side Cab Drivers, Trying To Kill Another

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.

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CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets.