Man goes to trial in robbery of $55,000 from casino patron
Jul. 3—Jury selection wrapped up this week for the upcoming trial of a Bridgeport man charged in the robbery of a man who left Mohegan Sun Casino with $62,000 in winnings.
Edward L. Taylor, 33, is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery ― for threatening use of a dangerous weapon and causing serious injury ― and first-degree larceny in connection with an armed robbery in the early morning hours of June 7, 2022 at a Mobil gas station on Mohegan Boulevard, just outside the casino.
The victim, who is not identified by police, told police he had a lucky night and left the casino at about 2:30 a.m. with $62,000 in cash in his car. Police said the victim was pumping gas when a car pulled in front of him and two men got out. One of the men punched him in the head and grabbed the cash inside the car.
"The victim stated that as he was struggling to hold onto his money one of the suspects displayed a knife and he had to let go of the money," according to the arrest warrant affidavit.
As the two thieves made off with the money and ran back to their car, police said the victim chased them and held onto one of the suspects through the passenger side window. The victim was dragged a short distance as the thieves made their getaway. Police said the victim suffered "multiple lacerations and abrasions on his hands, arms, and legs that he stated happened during the incident," the warrant states.
Police found $6,100 in $100 bills, some of them torn, left in and around the victim's car after the theft. The victim estimated the thieves made off with about $55,900.
Mohegan Tribal Police, who investigated the case, tracked the suspects' vehicle to Bridgeport and used casino surveillance footage to track the movements of the victim and suspects throughout the night.
Police said the two suspects in the robbery ― Taylor and 27-year-old Derek Williams ― were gambling in the casino in the vicinity of the victim. The victim, who police said was playing at a high limit table, said he cashed out winnings of $42,000 and could be seen walking to his car in the parking garage carrying the cash in his right hand.
The victim said he had cashed out an additional $20,000 prior to cashing out the $42,000. Police did not reveal in court documents which game the victim was playing.
Police said surveillance footage shows the two suspects had watched the victim walk past them in the Riverview parking garage and place the winnings into his car before walking back into the casino. The suspects backed into a parking spot across from the victim shortly before the victim came back to his car a few minutes later, police said.
The victim then proceeded to the gas station where he was robbed. Police said both Taylor and Williams have past criminal convictions. Williams was on probation at the time of the robbery for past criminal charges that included third-degree assault and second-degree robbery. Police said the Mercedes-Benz the robbery suspects were driving is owned by a woman who had an active protective order against him.
Taylor's case is being tried in New London Superior Court, where six jurors and two alternate jurors were picked on Monday. Taylor, who remains held in prison on a $75,000 bond, is due to appear in court on Monday for review of pretrial motions. He is represented by the public defender's office.
The trial is slated to begin in September.
