Minnesota Sentences Casino Robbery Mastermind to Prison

A man from Minnesota has been sentenced to prison due to his involvement in a 2023 robbery of a casino patron. While the man is believed not to have participated in the robbery himself, authorities understood that he was the mastermind behind the operation.

A Pair of Assailants Robbed a Casino Winner

In December 2023, a 68-year-old victim, whose identity has been kept hidden due to safety concerns, won $38K at the Treasure Island Casino in Welch, Minnesota. Instead of celebrations, however, the man was about to have one of the worst moments in his life.

The victim left the casino in the early hours of December 10, only to realize that he was being followed by Philip Williams Davids, one of his acquaintances from the casino. At the time, the victim went into a bathroom to hide.

As the victim returned home in the early morning, however, a red pickup truck pulled up. The two men who exited the vehicle immediately assaulted the victim, asking him to give them money. The victim’s girlfriend tried to intervene and stop the fight, only to be threatened with a firearm.

The Victim Followed the Robbers

Luckily, the victim was able to get into his own car and follow the robbers while alerting the police at the same time. This led to the arrests of the two assailants who were identified as Shawn Eric Lewis Jr. and Tristin Tyler Jacox‑Mann. Deangelo Romaine Jacox, who was driving the red truck, was also arrested.

The victim’s report that he was being followed earlier that night further helped authorities solve the case. After examining Davids’ phone, they discovered multiple calls between him and Lewis’ father, Shawn Eric Lewis Sr., linking the latter to the robbery. Surveillance footage showed Lewis Sr. following the victim and the red truck in his own vehicle, further confirming his involvement.

While Lewis Sr. didn’t take a part in the beating of the victim, officials understood that he orchestrated the entire operation.

Nick Hydukovich, head of the Washington County Attorney’s criminal division, asserted that Lewis Sr. was responsible for surveilling the area, assessing the victim’s location, and coordinating the other men’s involvement.

Lewis Senior Had Previously Served a Sentence for Similar Crimes

Shawn Eric Lewis Sr., who ended up pleading guilty to charges of involvement in a first-degree aggravated robbery, was eventually sentenced to five and a half years in prison. His son also received a prison sentence.

Police officials noted that this wasn’t Lewis Sr.’s first involvement in crime. In fact, the man had previously served a prison sentence for a separate robbery.

Other participants in the 2023 robbery are also set to be sentenced soon.