Crime & Safety

Mohegan Sun Robber To Serve Six Years, Will Be Deported

Winston Riley sentenced in robbery attempt on an elderly woman in a casino elevator

A 28-year-old man convicted at trial of trying to rob an elderly woman in a Mohegan Sun elevator will serve six years in prison, a New London Superior Court judge ruled on Thursday.

Winston Riley, of Bridgeport, was found guilty of attempted first-degree robbery, second-degree threatening, attempted second-degree larceny, and carrying a dangerous weapon. He was acquitted of a first-degree reckless endangerment charge.

The felony conviction also means Riley will be deported to his home country of Jamaica, defense attorney Tiny Sypek D’Amato said. Judge Arthur C. Hadden said this consequence made it inappropriate for him to impose any suspended prison time or a period of probation.

Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to The Bulletin, Riley went to the casino on March 18, 2012, to gamble and took a nap in his car after he was unable to withdraw money from an ATM. Upon awakening, he entered an elevator with an 81-year-old woman and threatened her with a carving knife in an attempt to steal her purse.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Carney said Riley abandoned the robbery attempt after the woman resisted. The incident was recorded on a surveillance camera, and police later arrested Riley on I-95 in Madison.

Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A defense attorney who formerly represented Riley suggested that Riley may have been sleepwalking during the incident.

The maximum sentence the court could have given Riley was 20 years. Carney said Riley has a good family and employment history and had not been convicted of any crime before, but said he also “clearly preyed on a person who was vulnerable.” The victim of the robbery attempt did not appear at the sentencing.

“She has said this incident will affect her for the rest of her life, and she is trying to put it behind her,” said Carney.

D’Amato said Riley came to the United States legally, was about to enter the military prior to his arrest, and ran a business as a computer technician.

“He reached the American dream, really, in owning his own business and being successful,” she said.

D’Amato also said Riley has taken responsibility for his actions and his written apologies related to the incident. She said Riley had no need to rob someone for money, and suggested that a gambling addiction and intoxication may have influenced his actions. 

D'Amato also said Riley had no intention of hurting the woman to get her purse and that the jury concurred with this assessment in their decision to find Riley not guilty on the reckless endangerment charge.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.