advertisement

Final suspect nabbed in Villa Park home invasion

A Chicago woman has been tracked down and now stands charged with being involved in a Villa Park home invasion last year in which three people were tied up and robbed.

Toni Gipson, 33, of the 3100 block of South Throop, is charged with home invasion with a firearm. She is being held in DuPage County jail on $500,000 bail.

Villa Park police said they learned Gipson's identity and address last month and went to her home Wednesday. According to police, Gipson ran out the rear door, but was stopped by officers.

Officials said Gipson is the fifth, and final, suspect in the Feb. 12, 2013, crime that unfolded after one of the victims arranged to meet a prostitute at his home. Two of the men have already been sentenced to lengthy prison terms and two are still awaiting trial.

Prosecutors said the victim who arranged the meeting was met by Gipson and four men when he answered his door on the 700 block of West Roy Drive.

The group held him at gunpoint, put a pillowcase over his head, bound him with strings from a set of blinds, and took his bank cards.

Prosecutors said Darwin Amador-Velasquez was armed with a loaded 9 mm handgun that he used to intimidate the victim but never fired.

Amador-Velasquez stayed at the victim's residence while Gipson and the others withdrew about $500 from the victim's accounts and attempted to use his cards at Walmart and a nearby gas station.

When they returned, Amador-Velasquez and another co-defendant had tied up two other victims who showed up at the home in the meantime.

The men then took those victims' bank cards and made more withdrawals, prosecutors said.

None of the victims was seriously injured.

The four men were arrested after police used a gas station surveillance video to locate a white Nissan used in the home invasion. Authorities found the 9 mm handgun on the vehicle's rear seat.

Amador-Velasquez was sentenced in February to 24 years in prison. Jaime Aguirre, 23, of Highland Park, was sentenced in October to 22 years.

Co-defendants Frederico Garcia, 27 and Sabas Torres, 27, both of Chicago, have pleaded not guilty and remain jailed while their cases are pending.

Four charged in Villa Park home invasion

Man gets 22 years for Villa Park home invasion

Chicago man gets 24 years in Villa Park robbery

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.