Feb. 10--A Southwest Side man accused in a series of restaurant robberies over the last year was ordered held on $300,000 bail Monday in Cook County bond court.
Samuel Ferrara, 23, of the 6600 block of West 59th Street, was given that bond by Cook County Associate Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil. His next court date is Feb. 13.
Cook County Assistant State's Atty. Erin Antonietti had argued for no bail, saying "no amount of bond " can "keep the community safe for residents and businesses."
Ferrara's public defender, Todd Chatman, said he is a lifelong resident of Cook County who has been living with his family for the last 12 years and that he was not a flight risk. he also said Ferrara had no criminal convictions.
Ferrara was charged with seven counts of armed robbery, six counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, attempted armed robbery, and theft, all of which are felonies, police said. Ferrara is charged for 11 separate incidents from June 22, 2014 through Feb. 6, 2015, said Antonietti.
Additionally, Ferrara was charged with a misdemeanor count of failure to register a firearm.
Antonietti said Ferrara "preyed on" Subway restaurants and one Wingstop. She said he robbed one Subway 5 times.
Antonietti said that Ferrara would either jump over the counter and flee with the cash register or would demand cash while armed with a knife and/or a gun before fleeing with "hundreds of dollars." Sometimes workers would be present and the night he was arrested two "civilians" were about to enter the eatery he was allegedly trying to rob when police broke their surveillance and placed him in custody. They recovered a gun and knife with a 6-inch blade, said Antonietti. No one was hurt during any of the incidents.
Ferrara appeared in court Monday wearing black jeans and gym shoes and zip-up jacket. His hands were behind his back and he lowered his head during proceedings. The only word he spoke was "yes" when the judge asked him a question.
Antonietti said Ferrara was captured on surveillance video and admitted to committing the crimes to "support a heroin habit."
Ferrara's wife was in court; she was crying and carrying an infant. Outside court, when asked to talk, she had no comment.
About 11:35 p.m. Friday officers and detectives were conducting "covert surveillance" on a fast food restaurant located on the 6400 block of West 63rd Street in an area where the offender had committed previous crimes. Police then spotted an armed man, later identified as Ferrara, enter the restaurant and announce a robbery, police said.
The officers and detectives immediately broke surveillance, entered the restaurant and placed the offender, who was armed with a knife and .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, into custody, police said.
Investigators found Ferrara was also allegedly responsible for several other armed robberies at restaurants in the area, four in January and three in October.
