Westmont, IL – Two suburban men accused of robbing another man at gunpoint during a meeting arranged through a resale app will remain in custody following a DuPage County judge’s decision Thursday.
According to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, Judge Joshua Dieden granted prosecutors’ motion to deny pretrial release for Nicholas Cozzie, 20, of Woodridge, and Jakob Evans, 18, of Wood Dale. Both men appeared in First Appearance Court charged with one count of armed robbery with a firearm, a Class X felony.
Authorities said the incident occurred Tuesday at about 5:04 p.m., when Westmont police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Suffield Apartments on West 63rd Street. Investigators allege the victim had arranged to sell an Xbox Series X console and accessories through the “OfferUp” app. After receiving a text message from the buyer, later identified as Evans, the victim waited outside before seeing a blue Toyota Yaris approach with Cozzie and Evans inside. Evans allegedly pointed a black and silver handgun, took the victim’s phone, and ordered him to run.
Police said the suspects fled in the Toyota before being spotted about 40 minutes later by a DuPage County sheriff’s deputy on 75th Street. Evans allegedly ran from the vehicle during a traffic stop but was arrested shortly afterward. Officers reported finding a handgun in the glovebox and a BB gun under the driver’s seat.
State’s Attorney Robert Berlin called the allegations “extremely alarming” and urged residents to conduct online sales in safe, public locations. Westmont Police Chief Brian Gruen said his department remains committed to protecting community members from those who “commit violent crimes and prey on innocent people.”
Cozzie and Evans are scheduled to return to court September 8 before Judge Margaret O’Connell.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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