22 years for two robberies at gunpoint

A 20-year-old Carpentersville man was sentenced to 22 years in prison Thursday for a two-day crime spree in 2009 that included robbing a business at gunpoint and threatening a cabbie with a gun during an attempted robbery.

Antonio D. McSwine, of the 0-99 block of Almeda Drive, pleaded guilty to one count each of attempted armed robbery and armed robbery.

The latter charge carried a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

Kane County Judge Karen Simpson accepted the plea.

Prosecutors dropped one other count of armed robbery, along with charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, reckless discharge of a firearm and two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.

On Sept. 3, 2009, McSwine called a taxicab to pick him up at the intersection of Helm Road and Papoose Drive in Carpentersville and pointed a gun at the cabbie’s head, demanding money. The cabbie said she didn’t have any money, so McSwine fired a single shot out the cab window and put the gun back against the driver’s head. The cabbie still said she had no money.

McSwine told her to stop the cab and he ran off.

The next morning, McSwine went to a travel agency in the 100 block of North Kennedy Drive, Carpentersville, and robbed the store and its employees at gunpoint.

No one was injured in either robbery; McSwine was picked up by Chicago police in October 2009 on unrelated charges.

McSwine was sentenced to 22 years in prison for both the armed robbery charge from travel agency and attempted armed robbery for the cabdriver. The sentences will be served at the same time.

McSwine is eligible for time off for good behavior and will credit for about 18 months in jail while the case was pending.