A Plainfield man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in a statewide video gaming theft ring. Authorities say the crooks took over $400,000 by targeting video gaming terminals.
Specifically, the group mainly operated in northern and eastern Illinois. However, officials say they reached as far as Mason County in central Illinois.
Also, three others were arrested in the case. Attorney General Kwame Raoul‘s office investigated the thefts along with the Illinois Gaming Board, Illinois State Police, and local law enforcement agencies.
Four accused of burglarizing businesses, stealing cash from VGTs
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a Will County man pleaded guilty. Specifically, he was sentenced to prison for burglarizing businesses and stealing cash from VGTs. Brian Morgan, 42, of Plainfield, pleaded guilty in Lee Circuit Court to felony theft and burglary.
In August 2022, the Attorney General’s office filed charges against four people, including Morgan. The AG alleged they broke into businesses around Illinois and robbed video gaming machines, stealing approximately $400,000.
“Members of this burglary ring allegedly targeted bars, restaurants, social clubs and other small businesses that have video poker and video gaming machines,” Raoul said. “They broke into dozens of these establishments in multiple counties and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash out of the machines. This case is the result of countless hours of cooperation between my office and several law enforcement agencies. I would like to thank the many agencies that collaborated with my office on this investigation and helped us break up this burglary operation and hold the members accountable.”
Further, Morgan pleaded guilty to one count of Class 1 felony theft and was sentenced to nine years in prison. Also, he was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Class 2 felony burglary. Notably, he will serve those sentences concurrently. Morgan is currently in prison, serving a separate sentence concerning unrelated charges.
Investigation is ongoing
Specifically, the theft ring is accused of breaking into dozens of businesses in several counties. They include: Carroll, DeKalb, Grundy, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Mason, McLean, Ogle and Will counties.
“Working together, the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Illinois State Police and other law enforcement agencies statewide, were able to dismantle and bring to justice those involved in this video gaming burglary ring,” said Illinois Gaming Board administrator Marcus Fruchter. “The Gaming Board will continue to work closely with its federal, state and local law enforcement partners to maintain and uphold the integrity and safety of gaming in Illinois.”
And, Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly says his office will continue to work with their law enforcement partners to investigate these criminal acts thoroughly. They will also work to assist the Attorney General’s Office in bringing those who break the law to justice.
As of yet, it is unclear what charges Morgan’s accomplices will face. Assistant Attorney General Andrew Whitfield is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s Statewide Grand Jury Bureau.
