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10 years in prison for third suspect in Villa Park home invasion

The third of five suspects has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison in the Feb. 12, 2013, home invasion that unfolded after one of the victims arranged to meet a prostitute at his home.

Sabas Torres, 27, of Chicago, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of home invasion with a firearm in exchange for prosecutors dropping 10 other charges. Torres was then sentenced to 10 years in prison and agreed to testify against the two remaining suspects if their cases go to trial.

Assistant State's Attorney Robert Stanker said the victim who arranged the meeting was greeted by a woman and four men, including Torres, 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.

One man was armed with a loaded 9 mm handgun that he used to intimidate the victim. The woman, prosecutors said, threatened the victim with a knife.

Stanker said Torres and another man stayed at the victim's residence while the others withdrew about $500 from the victim's accounts and attempted to use his cards at Walmart and a nearby gas station.

When the men returned, Torres 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.

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.

The woman, Toni Gipson, 33, of the 3100 block of South Throop, was arrested several months later at her Chicago home. She is charged with home invasion with a firearm and is being held in DuPage County jail on $500,000 bail. She is next due in court on Monday.

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

Frederico Garcia has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed while his case is pending. He is next due in court on Tuesday.

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