Federal charges brought against pair suspected of five robberies in Loop and Near North

Brantez Evans and Lamarr Brown at Dunkin’ Donuts, 10 West Chicago. | US Attorney’s Office

Two men who are suspected of robbing four fast food restaurants and a convenience store in the Loop and Near North neighborhoods over the past week will be prosecuted in federal court, according to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office in Chicago.

Chicago police arrested 18-year-old Brantez Evans and 19-year-old Lamarr Brown after they robbed a Subway restaurant at 1234 North Halsted Street on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by federal authorities.

Surveillance image of the robbery in progress at 1234 North Halsted. | US Attorney’s Office

After the men entered the restaurant around 8 p.m., Brown allegedly approached the counter and lifted his shirt to expose what appeared to be a handgun. Brown then told the cashier to “give me the money,” and pressured the clerk by saying, “come on man you don’t want to get shot,” according to an affidavit filed in federal court by a Chicago police officer assigned to the FBI’s Chicago task force.

Brown and Evans escaped with $307, but Evans returned to the restaurant to claim a backpack that he left on a chair and then left again before police arrived, the officer said. The pair was arrested about fifteen minutes later in the 1500 block of North Dayton.

Evans and Brown approach the Loop Mini Mart. | US Attorney’s Office

The FBI task force officer said in his statement that authorities suspect the two men are also responsible for robbing four other establishments, including two immediately before the Subway store on Halsted Street was held-up:

• The Subway restaurant, 177 North Wells, at 5:45 p.m. on June 21st 

• The Loop Mini Mart, 14 West Jackson, at 4:30 p.m. on June 24th 

• The Subway restaurant, 166 North Wabash, at 7:18 p.m. on June 25th 

• The Dunkin’ Donuts, 10 West Chicago, at 7:30 p.m. on June 25th

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago released a set of photographs that it says show Brown and Evans at or near the various robberies. Both men were allegedly wearing clothing or carrying items that police saw on surveillance images from the earlier robberies at the time of their arrests. A BB gun was also recovered, according to the federal affidavit.

Evans and Brown, each charged with one count of obstructing interstate commerce, face up to 20 years in prison if they are convicted of the charge. They are set to appear before a federal magistrate today.

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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. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com