January 9, 2019 – The 24-year-old man who robbed at gunpoint Quartino Ristorante in River North and tried to rob Portillo’s in the West Loop has been sentenced to ten years in prison.

Julian Wilson pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and one count of attempted armed robbery. In a plea deal announced on Tuesday, eleven additional charges were dropped, including another armed robbery charge, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and multiple weapons charges.

Just before midnight on May 13, 2018, Wilson (left) entered Quartino through an unlocked side door as the restaurant was closing. He passed through a kitchen area and found an employee counting money in a back office. He confronted the employee at gunpoint and escaped with $3,000. No one was injured in that hold-up.

Then on July 8, at about 5:00 a.m., he entered Portillo’s at 520 West Taylor Street and held several employees and a delivery person at gunpoint. He was in the process of robbing them when he was jumped by one of the employees, who wrestled away the gun. Two employees were injured, though not seriously, by knives they used to overpower and detain Wilson.

Police arrived and arrested Wilson and while questioning him, connected him to the Quartino robbery.

Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Ford gave Wilson two ten-year sentences to be served at the same time.