FBI: Round Lake woman attempted to rob Grayslake credit union
A Round Lake woman is facing a larceny charge after authorities say she attempted to rob a credit union in Grayslake.
Yvette Pedrero, 24, was arrested about 10:10 a.m. Thursday outside the Community Trust Credit Union at 1263 North Route 83 in Grayslake, according to an FBI agent's affidavit, which is included in a criminal complaint filed against Pedrero. She later admitted she planned to rob the credit union, authorities said.
Pedrero appeared in federal court Friday morning, FBI spokesman Garrett Croon said. Her arrest came as a result of an FBI investigation, which included assistance from Grayslake and Gurnee police, he said.
A witness first contacted authorities late last month after Pedrero, a former employee of the Community Trust Credit Union, asked for his help in robbing credit union branches in Grayslake and Gurnee, according to the criminal complaint. While telling the witness of her plan, Pedrero said they would split $250,000 to $300,000 after the robberies, the complaint says.
When the witness told Pedrero he did not want to be involved, authorities said, she persisted in asking for help before saying she would find someone else.
After informing Crime Stoppers, Gurnee police and the FBI of Pedrero's plans, however, the witness began cooperating with authorities, according to the complaint. At the direction of the FBI, he texted Pedrero on Tuesday saying he changed his mind and was interested in assisting with the robberies.
Over the next two days, authorities said, they exchanged several text messages and recorded conversations about Pedrero's plans to rob the Grayslake branch. They discussed the day, time and execution of the robbery, as well as what clothing they would wear, where they would park the getaway car and how much money they would steal, documents show. They settled on walking away with about $15,000 each.
On Thursday, Pedrero picked up the witness, who was wearing an audio recording device, and drove them in a minivan to a parking lot near the credit union, according to the complaint. Authorities said the witness asked Pedrero if she wanted to go through with the robbery, and she said she did.
After putting on additional articles of clothing and other disguises, they began walking toward the credit union about 10:04 a.m., according to the complaint, and Pedrero was arrested as they approached the entrance.
In an interview with authorities later that morning, Pedrero admitted she intended to rob the credit union, according to the complaint.