CHARGES FILED AGAINST GLEN ELLYN MAN IN HIJACKING OF BEVERAGE TRUCK

WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that charges have been filed against Samer Bader, 29 (d.o.b. 10/17/1976), of 402 Turner, Glen Ellyn, in connection with two separate incidents involving the armed robbery and hijacking of a beverage distribution truck in Elmhurst.

  On March 6, an employee of Power Distributing LLC was delivering a shipment of Red Bull Energy Drink to a Sam’s Club located in Woodridge.  While unloading his truck, the victim was allegedly approached by Bader who displayed a gun.  Bader allegedly hijacked the victim’s delivery truck and ordered the victim into another vehicle driven by an unknown accomplice.  A short time later the victim was released.   Using a cell phone, the victim then called police to report the incident. 

Nearly three weeks later, on March 24, the same victim was working at the Power Distributing LLC warehouse in Elmhurst when he and three co-workers were allegedly confronted at gunpoint by Bader and an unknown accomplice.  Bader and his accomplice then allegedly stole more than 800 cases of Red Bull Energy Drink along with a company truck. 

“In addition to stealing a substantial amount of merchandise from Power Distributing, Bader and his accomplice accosted, by gunpoint, four men just trying to do their jobs,” remarked Birkett.  “This type of brazen attack against hard-working individuals who are trying to earn an honest living will not be tolerated.”  Birkett went on to thank all the parties involved in solving this case, “I would like to thank the Elmhurst Police Department, particularly Detective John Tarpey, for their extended efforts in this case.  I would also like to thank the New York Police Department and personnel at Power Distributing for their invaluable assistance.”

Bader has been charged with the following offenses: Armed Robbery with a Firearm, a Class X Felony; Aggravated Kidnapping with a Firearm, a Class X Felony; Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking with a Firearm, a Class X Felony; two counts of Aggravated Unlawful Restraint, a Class 3 Felony; Receiving, Possessing or Selling a Stolen Motor Vehicle, a Class 2 Felony; and Theft Between $10,000 and $100,000, a Class 2 Felony.  Bader, who was arrested in New York on March 30, is being held on a $1 million bond for each incident and is currently awaiting extradition to Illinois.  If found guilty, Bader faces between 21 and 45 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. 

The identity of Bader’s accomplice is still unknown.  Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the Elmhurst Police Department at (630) 530-3050.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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