Northlake man guilty in 2011 Craigslist robbery in Addison
A Northlake man likely will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted Friday for his role in a 2011 armed robbery in Addison.
A 12-member DuPage County jury deliberated for three hours Friday before finding Luis Moreta, 43, guilty of robbing three men at gunpoint who had responded to a Craigslist ad to buy a motorcycle.
"This was an extremely horrifying crime of terror that no one should ever have to experience," Assistant State's Attorney Steve Knight said during Friday's closing arguments. "The fear of not knowing if they would live to see tomorrow forever emblazoned in their heads."
Prosecutors alleged Moreta, along with Victor Arroyo and Christian Ross-Emerson, concocted a scheme in November 2011 to post a false ad on Craigslist offering a black Suzuki GSXR motorcycle for $4,500.
Samuel Ortiz of Chicago quickly responded to the ad, negotiated a cash price of $3,700 and agreed to pick up the motorcycle in Addison.
Ortiz's lifelong friend, Aldwin Caraballo of Melrose Park, testified during the trial that Ortiz called him on the evening of Dec. 2, 2011, and asked to borrow his truck to pick up the motorcycle. Caraballo agreed and he, Ortiz and another man drove separate cars to inspect and purchase the motorcycle.
Caraballo said when they arrived at the apartment complex at 603 Meadow Blvd., they met Ross-Emerson, the man Ortiz had been talking to about the bike.
As they approached the van, he said, two additional men armed with guns and with their faces covered surrounded the men and demanded their money, keys, wallets and cellphones.
Prosecutors said Moreta, who already has been convicted of two previous Class X felonies, was driving the van and was one of the armed, masked men. They said they believe the evidence, including cellphone records and testimony from both Arroyo and Emerson, will be enough to convict Moreta of his third Class X felony, forcing a mandatory life sentence.
Moreta's attorney, Barry Sheppard, argued that Arroyo and Emerson are both "unreliable and impeachable witnesses" who agreed to testify to ensure better plea deals for themselves.
"If you've ever built a house of cards, you know the key is having a solid foundation," Sheppard said Friday. "(Arroyo and Emerson) are about as shaky a foundation as you can have."
Moreta's girlfriend's former supervisor also testified Friday that Moreta and his girlfriend were with her and her husband, celebrating her birthday when the crime occurred.
Emerson, Sheppard said, borrowed Moreta's van that night saying he was moving a workout set.
Arroyo has pleaded guilty to armed robbery and will be sentenced Tuesday 17 years in prison. Emerson pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in November 2012 and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Moreta is next due in court at 9 a.m. Jan. 13 for the filing of post-trial motions and setting of a formal sentencing date.