DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Addison Deputy Chief of Police Roy Selvik and FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office Robert “Wes” Wheeler have announced that Judge Michael Fleming granted the state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for one of several individuals suspected of robbing at gunpoint two BMO Harris branch offices located in DuPage County.
Kenneth Eggleston, 30, appeared at First Appearance Court and was charged with two counts of armed violence (Class X felony), two counts of armed robbery with a firearm, (Class X felony), one count of attempt armed robbery with a firearm (Class 1 felony), two counts of financial institution robbery (Class 1 felony), two counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony), one count of possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 felony) and four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (Class 3 felony).
It is alleged that on July 19 at approximately 9:30 a.m., two armed, masked men entered the BMO Harris Bank located at 320 W. Diehl Road in Naperville. It is further alleged that once inside the bank, the men ordered the customers and employees to the floor, took two bank employees at gunpoint to the vault and ordered them to open it.
It is alleged the men then took approximately $95,716 from the vault and put it in a bag that they had brought with them. It is further alleged the men then exited the bank and fled the scene in a car that was reported stolen out of Chicago on July 9. It is further alleged that two days later, on July 21 at approximately 9:08 a.m., two armed and masked individuals entered the BMO Harris Bank located in the 1300 block of W. Lake Street in Addison.
It is alleged that once inside the bank, the defendants ordered the employees and customers to the floor. It is further alleged that one of the defendants jumped over the counter and ordered the tellers to open the drawers and put cash into a garbage bag. It is further alleged that once the drawers were emptied, one of the defendants ordered employees to the back vault at gunpoint and demanded they put more cash into the bag, it is further alleged that the duo then fled the area with approximately $172,152.
It is alleged that approximately one week later, on July 28 at approximately 9:53 a.m., two masked and armed men approached the entrance of the BMO Harris Bank located in the 2400 block of 75th Street in Woodridge. It is alleged that the defendants approached the security guard who was just opening up for the day and ordered him at gunpoint to open the door, which the security guard did not do.
It is alleged that the two men fled in another stolen sedan when they were denied entry to the bank. It is also alleged that a red Infiniti Q50 was known by law enforcement to be used as a getaway car in both the Naperville and Addison armed robberies as well as the attempted armed robbery at the Woodridge location.
At approximately 10:25 a.m., a Burr Ridge police officer observed the Infiniti driving at a high rate of speed on I-294 from I-55. A Chicago police helicopter was called in to assist and ultimately tracked the vehicle to 11631 Wallace Street in Chicago.
It is alleged that when officers arrived at the address, Eggleston was standing in front of the red Infiniti Q50 with a backpack in his hand. It is further alleged that Eggleston dropped the backpack and attempted to run from law enforcement but was apprehended and ultimately released. Further investigation into the matter identified Eggleston as a suspect. He was taken into custody on a previously issued arrest warrant in Chicago on Nov. 3, without incident.
Eggleston, who is a convicted felon and was on parole for a weapon offense at the time of these alleged armed robberies, has two active arrest warrants out of Cook County for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer.
“Violent gun crimes, as alleged in this case, will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be met with the full force and effect of the law,” Berlin said. “We are all very grateful that no employees or customers at the banks were physically harmed during these alleged robberies. The apprehension of the first of several individuals who allegedly committed these crimes sends the message that we will use all tools available to us, including assistance from the federal government and air support if necessary to hold accountable anyone suspected of this type of behavior.
“I thank the Addison Police Department for their efforts in this case as well as the Naperville, Woodridge and Chicago police departments for their work as well.”
“This was a tremendous and lengthy investigation involving several agencies and our partners at the FBI,” Selvik said.
Eggleston’s next court appearance was scheduled Nov. 13 for arraignment in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.
