Chicago man sentenced for Wood Dale armed robberies

A Chicago man was sentenced to prison Thursday after pleading guilty to robbing two Wood Dale tobacco shops.

Michael Wilson, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery and was sentenced to two concurrent sentences of 8½ years in prison, one for each robbery.

Prosecutors said Wilson pointed a revolver at clerks in two separate holdups — the first on Dec. 30, 2013, and the second on Jan. 17 — at Wood Dale tobacco stores on the 300 and 400 blocks of Irving Park Road.

He faced a minimum 21 years in prison on the original armed robbery charge.

Wood Dale Police Chief Greg Vesta said authorities had been circulating videos of Wilson's car used in the robberies and photos of the sweatshirt and stocking cap he wore since the December robbery.

Vesta said an officer noticed Wilson's car in late February at a local convenience store and recognized it from the video. Shortly after, Wilson was stopped for having an obstructed windshield and not wearing his seat belt.

Vesta said the officer found the sweatshirt and cap used in the robbery during the same traffic stop.

Wilson has been held on $300,000 bond since his Feb. 28 arrest. In addition to his sentence, Wilson will serve two years of parole after his release and must repay the total of $390 he stole from the two shop owners.