A Chicago woman charged with robbing a North Riverside TCF Bank branch in February pleaded not guilty at her arraignment before federal Judge David H. Coar on April 5 in U.S. District Court.
On March 30, a federal grand jury indicted Phelicia Van on three counts of bank robbery, alleging that in addition to the North Riverside robbery, she robbed a Charter One Bank in Elgin of $1,482 on Jan. 8 and robbed the TCF Bank branch located inside a Jewel-Osco store in Stickney of $2,100 on March 2.
North Riverside police reported that on Feb. 11, Van walked up to the counter at the TCF Bank branch inside the Jewel-Osco store at 7201 24th St. in North Riverside and handed the teller a note indicating she had a gun and demanded money.
She reportedly made off with $2,950 from the North Riverside bank and left the scene in a taxi. Bank security cameras captured images of Van, whose probation officer recognized her and contacted the FBI.
Van was convicted in 2008 of robbing two banks in Chicago and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. She was released in October 2009.
-Bob Uphues
