Man Robbed at Gunpoint After Tracking Down Man Who Took His Cell Phone: Police

A Gages Lake man is accused of pointing a gun at a 54-year-old man’s head and robbing him of his cell phone outside a local church after a bizarre string of events, which began when the victim first lost his cell phone earlier that same day.

Jeffery R. Fillebrown, 29, of the 17900 block of West Greentree Road in Gages Lake, is now charged with attempted armed robbery, a class 1 felony; aggravated assault, a class A misdemeanor; and violation of the firearm concealed carry act, a class B misdemeanor in connection with the Oct. 5 incident.

The victim in the armed robbery told police he first lost his cell phone earlier in the day on Oct. 5. He believed he placed his cellular phone on his vehicle while getting prepared to leave for work and it fell off the vehicle in his neighborhood as he was driving, according to a news release.

The victim later called his cell phone from a different telephone. A man answered the phone and said he would return the cellular phone to the victim in exchange for $100.

The victim agreed to meet the man, who was now in possession of the cellular phone, at the Wildwood Presbyterian Church in Gages Lake. The two showed up at the church at about 2:22 p.m. and the victim took the phone out of the man’s hand. The offender pointed a handgun at the victim’s head and the victim gave the cell phone back the man who then fled the area.

Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives quickly identified Fillebrown as the offender, according to police. The firearm used by Fillebrown was recovered.

Sheriff’s detectives are in communication with the Illinois State Police in an effort to revoke Fillebrown’s Firearm Owner Identification Card (FOID) and Concealed Carry License.

A $20,000 bond was set for Fillebrown. He is next expected in court on Oct. 11.

Photo credit: Lake County Sheriff's Office