Prosecutors say a Chicago man stole approximately $8,000 in Newport cigarettes by regularly turning North Side Walgreens stores into smash-and-grab tobacco stops, vaulting counters, and emptying secured display cases after clerks unlocked them.
The claimed cigarette frenzy is consistent with Dontrell Willis’ long-standing relationship with tobacco. Court records show that the 31-year-old has had over 40 complaints filed against him in Cook County since 2011, several of which include ordinance violations for allegedly selling cigarettes on CTA property.
Related posts
Willis, also known as Dontrell Williams and Dawayne Jones, is now suspected of carrying out eight Walgreens raids since July, most of which occurred in recent weeks.
On December 10, Chicago police arrested Willis in Lincoln Park for allegedly stealing $745 in tobacco items from a Walgreens store at 834 West Armitage Avenue.
Willis was caught on surveillance tape asking to buy a pack of cigarettes before climbing over the counter to take a huge amount of Newports after a worker unlocked the guarded tobacco display. Officers discovered him in a nearby neighborhood and charged him with felony retail theft.
Judge Rivanda Doss Beal freed Willis the next day on electronic monitoring, allowing him to leave his home between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Within days, authorities linked Willis to a string of identical events that had plagued many Walgreens locations. According to the charges, Willis targeted the same areas again.
Prosecutors have recently charged Willis with seven additional felony retail theft offenses and one count of robbery.
On July 23, Willis allegedly rushed the counter at a Walgreens in the 6100 block of North Broadway, stealing $182 in Newport cigarettes. Prosecutors say he returned to the business on October 3 and again on December 7, reportedly taking cigarettes worth $1,583.
Willis allegedly stole $1,027 worth of Newports from a Walgreens in the 900 block of West Irving Park Road on August 6. He allegedly returned on November 29 and grabbed an additional $1,645 in tobacco items.
On November 21, prosecutors claim he targeted the Armitage Avenue shop for the first time. Willis allegedly asked the cashier for Newports, leaped over the counter, stuffed a bag with tobacco items valued around $600, and escaped.
Four days later, on November 25, he allegedly robbed a Walgreens in the 1200 block of North Dearborn Street, taking $849 in cigarettes. Prosecutors say he returned to the store on December 5 and took 60 packs worth $1,007.
During one of the episodes, prosecutors claim Willis smacked a cashier’s hand and used force, resulting in a robbery accusation, which, unlike retail theft, is punishable under the SAFE-T Act.
Prosecutors used that charge to petition Judge James Costello to hold Willis pending trial. The judge agreed, noting “takeover-style tactics” as a major issue.
