6 face federal charges for crypto-seeking Winnetka home invasion

Six men are facing federal charges for their alleged roles in a Winnetka home invasion in March, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois.

In a Tuesday press release, the attorney’s office wrote that the six men — one of whom is Isaiah Duke, also known as Chicago rapper Lil Zay Osama — face robbery and kidnapping conspiracy charges for the incident on March 8, when several armed individuals stormed into a Winnetka home in the 700 block of Rosewood Avenue, held a resident at gunpoint and demanded “specific items.”

The resident reportedly escaped the ordeal without injuries, while the defendants allegedly made away with at least $111,000 worth of cryptocurrency, cash and other property, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Other defendants are Dashun Brown, 24, of Chicago; David Franklin, 24, of Chicago; Anthony Ramsey, 22, of Chicago; Khiell Dukes, 30, of Elgin; and Jalen Chambers, 24, of Bourbonnais.

The release says a seventh individual allegedly involved in the crime was arrested on Tuesday, April 28, and likely will face similar charges.

Andrew Boutros, attorney for the Northern District, announced the charges and thanked the numerous agencies involved, including the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the FBI; and the Winnetka, Northbrook and Glencoe police departments, among others.

Winnetka Police Chief Brian O’Connell, in a statement, also thanked the “diligent work and partnership” of the various involved agencies, as well as his department’s investigations unit.

“These charges are a positive step forward toward resolution of this incident and they demonstrate our shared commitment to protecting our constituents,” O’Connell said. “This is an example of the collaborative efforts between multiple federal, state, and local agencies working together, utilizing the best investigative technology available, and prosecuting offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to the criminal complaint filed on April 16, the arrestees conspired to steal cryptocurrency, cash and other property from residents of the Winnetka home on Rosewood. They also obtained firearms to commit the crime, the complaint says.

The complaint alleges that one of the defendants posed as a food-delivery driver and approached the home on Rosewood. When someone answered, the complaint continues, three of the defendants and two others forced their way into the home, displayed guns, and demanded access to a safe, a computer and online accounts holding cryptocurrency.

The defendants, and others, allegedly discussed — via cellphone and in person — details of the home invasion before, during and after the home invasion.

Isaiah Dukes reportedly was not present at the time of the crime but was called during the robbery and instructed those on scene. He also reportedly met with other defendants afterward “in order to ensure that all proceeds of the robbery were collected,” according to the complaint.

The attorney’s office reportedly obtained arrested warrants for multiple defendants within 12 days of the crime.

The office’s press release says kidnapping conspiracy charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison and robbery conspiracy up to 20 years.

“By immediately deploying targeted federal resources to this investigation and working closely with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we were able to swiftly disrupt a violent criminal conspiracy and remove dangerous individuals from the streets in a matter of days,” Boutros said in a statement. “I will continue to push hard to crack down on violent crime in the Chicago area, which means the U.S. Attorney’s Office is going to federally prosecute significant violent offenses throughout the city and suburbs.”

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