DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced that late yesterday afternoon, a Chicago man charged with stealing more than $50,000 in cash from a professional gambler has been sentenced to seventeen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Robert Chencinski, 48 (d.o.b. 9/14/1969) of 1919 Leavitt Street, entered a plea of guilty yesterday to one count of Robbery (Class 2 Felony) in front of Judge Robert Miller, who handed down the sentence. Chencinski was subject to Class X sentencing guidelines based upon his criminal history. On August 11, 2015, he appeared in Bond Court where his bond was set at $300,000 with 10% to apply. He has remained in custody since that time. 
On August 10, 2015, at approximately 8 a.m., the victim was stopped at an intersection while driving his vehicle from his home in Naperville to Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. As he proceeded through the intersection, his vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle driven by Chencinski. After hitting his victim’s vehicle, Chencinski exited his vehicle, approached his victim’s vehicle and then reached through the open driver’s side window, put the victim in a choke hold, opened the driver’s door then pulled the victim out of his vehicle. Chencinski then overpowered his victim, stole a total of $51,500 in cash from him and then returned to his vehicle and fled the scene. A witness called 911 and Naperville Police officers located the vehicle. After a short car chase, Chencinski abandoned the vehicle in a residential neighborhood in Naperville. Approximately one hour later, Chencinski was located hiding in a resident’s back yard.
“Mr. Chencinski’s decision to ambush, assault and rob an innocent man of more than $50,000 has indeed earned him every minute of the seventeen-year sentence handed down by Judge Miller,” Berlin said. “This sentence sends the message that this type of brazen behavior will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will carry significant consequences. I would like to thank the Naperville Police Department for their quick response and apprehension of Mr. Chencinski. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Nicole Wilkes-English and Rob Willis for their work in securing a significant sentence for Mr. Chencinski.”
Chencinski will be required to serve 50% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.