Jan 23, 2008 4:06 pm US/Central
'Red Bull' Bandit Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison
WHEATON, Ill. (STNG) ―
A west suburban man with an affinity for Red Bull was sentenced to 24 years in prison Tuesday for the armed robberies and hijackings of two trucks filled with the energy drink.
Samer Bader, 31, of 402 Turner in Glen Ellyn, was sentenced to 24 years after entering a blind plea of guilty on Sept. 14, 2007, to one count of aggravated kidnapping with a firearm, according to a release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's office.
On March 6, 2006, while unloading a shipment of Red Bull at a Sam's Club in Woodridge, an employee of Power Distributing was approached by Bader, who displayed a gun, the release said. Bader ordered the employee into another vehicle driven by an accomplice and hijacked the delivery truck. A short time later the victim was released and reported the incident on his cell phone.
About three weeks later, on March 24, the same victim, along with three co-workers, was working at the Power Distributing warehouse in Elmhurst when they were confronted at gunpoint by Bader and William Moctezuma, 27, of Chicago, the release said. The pair stole more than 800 cases of Red Bull along with a company truck.
On Dec. 12, 2007, Moctezuma entered a blind plea of guilty to armed robbery with a firearm. He will be sentenced Feb. 11 and faces up to 30 years in prison, the release said.
"This armed attack on the cartage industry will not be tolerated," State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said in the release. "These hard-working individuals are responsible for keeping our stores stocked and it is very important that they are able to perform their jobs without fear for their personal safety."
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(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
