TRENTON – Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that two men were sentenced to state prison today for their roles in an armed robbery at the Caesars Casino in Atlantic City in 2014 that also involved a former security guard at the casino who had been fired.
Aaron Evans, 26, of Atlantic City, was sentenced to eight years in state prison. He pleaded guilty on Dec. 12, 2016 to second-degree theft.
Nathaniel Greenlee, 23, of Bear, Delaware, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
He pleaded guilty to second-degree theft on June 13, 2016.
Authorities said on Jan. 6, 2017, Izyiah Plummer, 22, of Atlantic City, a former Caesars security guard, was sentenced by Judge DeLury to 11 years in prison, including over nine years of parole ineligibility, for his leading role in the armed robbery.
He pleaded guilty to all of the charges against him in an Aug. 20, 2015 indictment, including first-degree armed robbery, conspiracy, aggravated assault and weapons offenses. A fourth defendant, Donavon Jackson, 23, of Wilmington, Delaware, was sentenced on March 17, 2017 to seven years in state prison. He pleaded guilty on June 17, 2016 to second-degree theft.
Deputy Attorney General Kerry DiJoseph prosecuted the defendants and handled the sentencing hearings for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau-Casino Prosecutions Unit.
The men were charged in an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau and the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau-Casino Prosecutions Unit. They were charged in connection with an armed robbery of a security guard and a second casino employee who were removing cash from a kiosk inside Caesars on July 21, 2014.
“We’re putting all of the men involved in this casino robbery behind bars for substantial prison terms,” said Attorney General Porrino. “By participating in this brazen armed robbery, they put lives at risk inside the casino and demonstrated that they are a menace to the community.”
“Our Casino Prosecutions Unit works closely with the New Jersey State Police to prosecute crimes in the casinos and promote a safe and secure environment for employees and patrons,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “This case demonstrates the effectiveness of that partnership in solving crimes and delivering justice.”
“This group rolled the dice, took a bold risk, but paid for it in the end,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to would-be criminals that any criminal acts perpetrated in New Jersey’s casinos will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent.”
The investigation revealed that at about 6:18 a.m. on July 21, 2014, Plummer and Evans arrived at Caesars Casino in a car driven by Greenlee, with Jackson in the passenger seat. Plummer and Evans entered the casino wearing masks and gloves and approached a security guard and another casino employee who were loading full cash boxes onto a trolley from a self-redemption terminal at a kiosk. Plummer pointed a handgun at the two employees.
Plummer pointed the gun at the security guard’s head while Evans removed three cash boxes from the trolley. As the two robbers were fleeing the casino, one of them dropped one of the cash boxes and left it behind. Plummer and Evans escaped from the casino with two cash boxes containing approximately $181,200 and entered Greenlee’s vehicle.
Greenlee drove to Plummer’s apartment in the Venice Park section of Atlantic City.
There proceeds of the robbery were divided among Plummer, Evans, Greenlee and Jackson.
State Police detectives quickly followed up on investigative leads, identifying potential suspects and obtaining search warrants for various residences. A search warrant was executed at Plummer’s apartment, where a black ski mask, bullets for a .38 special handgun and $43,900 in cash were found. A search warrant also was executed at Evans’ home, where $4,300 in cash was seized. Detectives found a handle from one of the cash boxes in the street in front of Evans’ home.
The lead detectives on the case for the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau were Detective Michael Nelson and Detective Sgt. Charles Vicente. The Atlantic City Police Department, Pleasantville Police Department, Delaware State Police and Pennsylvania State Police provided valuable assistance in the investigation.