A five-time convicted felon who was paroled for attempted robbery in April is accused of going right back to his old ways by luring people into robbery traps via Facebook Marketplace. Prosecutors say Marvio Banks, 25, also known as “Santana Glee,” targeted victims in Austin and Chatham this summer.
On July 3, a man arranged to meet Banks in the 4900 block of West Rice in Austin to sell a pair of diamond earrings, prosecutors say. Banks allegedly got into the victim’s car, pulled out a handgun, and pointed it at the seller’s head.
Prosecutors said he told the victim not to “do anything stupid” before snatching the earrings from the victim’s leg, stealing the man’s iPhone, and running off.
Chicago police circulated images of the robber and officers who know Banks from other situations identified him, according to prosecutors. Based on that, detectives put Banks’ picture in a photo lineup and the victim picked him out, court records show.
Banks is also charged with stealing a “Tudor Rolex watch” from another man on June 21 in the 7900 block of South Drexel, according to a criminal complaint.
He now faces counts of armed robbery, felony theft, and aggravated unlawful restraint.
Judge John Hock ordered him detained.
The Illinois Department of Corrections also revoked his parole and records show he was returned to prison this week.
Banks was paroled on April 1 after serving half of a three-year sentence for attempted robbery, IDOC records show. His criminal record includes two other robbery convictions and a felony theft from 2021 and drug cases in 2015 and 2018.
Chicago police have issued nearly a dozen community alerts this year warning residents about criminals using Facebook Marketplace to lure victims into robbery traps.
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