May 03--A man who robbed a Near West Side bank was recognized by the branch manager as someone who had previously helped himself to free coffee at the bank at least three times, according to court documents.
Anthony Fontana, 30, who authorities say is homeless, was arrested not long after the Chase Bank branch at 300 S. Riverside Plaza was robbed of about $220 around 1:15 p.m. Monday, according to the charges against him.
Just before the robbery, a security guard for Riverside Plaza, where the bank is located, saw a man in the lobby writing notes. The guard told him to leave, but the man said, "I need to go to my bank first," according to an FBI affidavit. The man then walked into the Chase Bank.
The teller who was robbed is also the branch manager for the bank. When Fontana entered the bank, the teller recognized him as the man who had been there at least three times before to drink coffee "provided by the bank for its patrons," according to the affidavit.
The man went up to the manager and passed an orange note that read, "I have a twenty two caliber pistol. I want you to hand me the money now!" according to the charges. The teller handed over a stack of about 11 $20 bills, the robber left and the manager called 911.
The security guard saw the robber leave the bank and Riverside Plaza. Soon afterward, Chicago police officers saw Fontana about a block south of the bank and noticed he matched the robber's description, according to the charges.
Fontana was arrested and police found $220 in $20 bills in his left back pocket. Fontana was taken to the bank, and the manager and the security guard both identified him. Surveillance photos also showed a man who looked like Fontana and was wearing the same clothes he was captured in, the FBI said.
He was charged with bank robbery by intimidation, and appeared in federal court in Chicago Tuesday morning for an initial hearing. He was held pending another hearing, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.
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