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Second man charged in Wheeling home invasion

The second of two defendants who authorities say took more than $150,000 worth of sports cards during a Wheeling home invasion in August was arrested Tuesday.

Steven Chung, 26 of Des Plaines, has been charged with home invasion with a firearm and is being held at Cook County jail on a $100,000 bail. Also charged in the Aug. 27 home invasion and armed robbery is Martrell Robinson, 20, of Chicago. He's being held at Cook County jail in lieu of $125,000 bail.

Prosecutors say Chung and Robinson first kicked in the front door to a Wheeling home and then kicked in the resident's bedroom door. They threatened the man, held him at gunpoint, bound his hands and feet with electrical tape and beat him in an attempt to get him to reveal the combination to his safe, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Elizabeth Brogan.

After several unsuccessful attempts, they opened the safe and took sports cards - including cards depicting Michael Jordan and Yasiel Puig - worth between $150,000 and $200,000, Brogan said.

The man identified Chung as someone who knew about his collection, said Brogan, adding that the items began appearing on eBay within days.

Additionally, the owner of a Lima, Ohio, sports memorabilia store identified Chung as the man who sold him some of the cards. The owner of an Indianapolis store also identified Chung and said he sold cards to him and to another collector in his store, Brogan said.

Chung's background includes convictions for criminal damage to property in 2008, robbery in 2007 and possession of a controlled substance in 2005.

If convicted of the most serious charges, Chung and Robinson face up to 30 years in prison.

They next appear in court on Dec. 11.

Martrell Robinson
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