A 25-year-old man allegedly used a Google Translate app on his victim’s phone to threaten him with death unless he handed over cash, prosecutors said. Shelly Bahari is charged with aggravated robbery in connection with the January 13 holdup that started outsidethe Bank of America branch at 430 West Roosevelt Road.
In a detention petition, Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Weiner said the victim, a 26-year-old man, left the bank shortly after midnight when Bahari approached and asked him to buy food. After the victim said he had no money, Bahari allegedly ordered him to hand over $200 and continued following him.
Bahari then placed his hand in his jacket pocket and gestured as if he had a weapon, prosecutors said. He again demanded $200 and ultimately used the victim’s phone to translate a threat into Spanish: “Give me $200, or I’ll kill you,” according to Weiner.
Bahari used the translate app again with a revised offer, according to a Chicago Police Department report: “Okay, $40. I will leave y’all alone for good, amigo. Don’t play with me or else y’all go die in Chicago. This is my city. I run it.”
The victim gave Bahari $40 in $10 bills and then ran to the nearby White Palace Grill and called for help, according to CPD. He provided officers with details about what happened, along with a description of his robber.
Cops located Bahari nearby, matching the robber’s description and they recovered $40 in $10 bills from him, prosecutors said.
Judge John Hock ordered Bahari detained.
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