An 88-year-old East Elmhurst man who had just won $1,000 at Resorts World Casino was followed home, assaulted and robbed of his winnings, District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Video footage and eyewitness accounts show Gregory Hillman, 57, of the Bronx, trailing the elderly man for more than an hour and a half and 10 miles before taking the cash, the district attorney said.
Hillman spotted the victim at the South Ozone Park casino on the afternoon of Oct. 31 as he was counting the $1,000 he had just won, according to Brown. He then followed the victim through the casino, onto a shuttle bus, through the subway system, into a supermarket, onto a Q47 bus and finally to his apartment building.
He allegedly came up behind the victim outside of the building to take his money. The two struggled and Hillman pushed the victim to the ground, causing him to hit his head on the pavement and eventually black out, the district attorney said. Hillman then grabbed his wallet, which contained the casino winnings, an additional $10 in cash and a credit card.
The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for contusions and welts, a bump on his forehead and face, and scratches on his hands.
Hillman was arraigned on Saturday in Queens Criminal Court on robbery, assault and grand larceny charges, according to prosecutors. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
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