Chicago man charged with Elmhurst robbery, suspected in another

A Chicago man was jailed Thursday on charges he robbed an Elmhurst gas station of about $600, and police are investigating whether he previously robbed the same location, prosecutors said.

DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail at $300,000 for Mario Williams, 24, of the 400 block of East 62nd Street.

Williams is accused of robbing the Shell gas station at 926 N. York St. about 7:40 p.m. Wednesday. Prosecutor Bethany Jackson said he had his face covered when he entered the store, pulled a handgun from his waistband and took about $600 from a clerk.

After the robbery, Jackson said, police found Williams nearby in a taxi. She said Williams tried to persuade the driver to tell police the two were related. Instead, the driver told officers he saw Williams stuff something behind his seat. That’s where police found the proceeds from the robbery, according to Jackson.

“Elmhurst is investigating a similar incident with the same victim at the same gas station in August,” she said, identifying Williams as the suspect.

But Williams emphatically denied the charges.

“I never robbed no one,” he told the judge.

Jackson said Williams is on parole for unlawful use of a weapon and has prior convictions for burglary, drugs and retail theft. If convicted of armed robbery, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

Williams would have to post a $30,000 bond to be released from the county jail. His next court date is Sept. 27 in front of Judge Blanche Hill Fawell.