Second Suspect Arrested in Missouri Casino Heist of More Than $1.2 Million
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BLOOMINGTON, Ill.: A second suspect wanted over an armed Missouri casino robbery involving more than $1.2 million has been arrested, the FBI said.
The arrest moves the Boonville casino case into a new phase, with both accused men now in custody after prosecutors alleged a masked robbery at the Isle of Capri Casino.
Hollis Vanleer Jr., of Normal, Illinois, was arrested Wednesday in Bloomington, Illinois. He had been wanted on Cooper County charges of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and first-degree assault.
The arrest came after the FBI offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to Vanleer’s capture. The agency had recently sought public help in the Missouri casino robbery suspect search, naming Vanleer as the remaining wanted suspect in the case.
Second Arrest Follows March Casino Robbery
The charges stem from an alleged March 25 robbery at the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville, Missouri. Court records cited in local reports said two masked suspects entered the casino armed with a handgun and a rifle before heading toward the vault area.
Investigators said the suspects jumped over the casino cage desk into a restricted area, took a large amount of cash from a drawer and placed it into a duffel bag. The stolen amount was later reported at around $1.276 million.
Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, a casino employee from Columbia, Missouri, was arrested in March and accused of acting as Vanleer’s alleged co-conspirator. His arrest left Vanleer as the second man being sought by authorities.
The case had already led to charges while investigators continued looking for the remaining suspect. Prosecutors previously charged one man in the Boonville casino robbery case, leaving Vanleer as the second suspect sought by authorities.
Patron Tackled Suspect During Escape
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said one of the suspects was tackled by a casino patron while leaving the property. A fight followed before the other suspect allegedly struck the patron several times, allowing both men to escape.
The assault allegation is part of the charges filed in Cooper County court. Vanleer was charged on April 14, and a warrant was issued for his arrest the same day.
The alleged use of firearms and the reported confrontation with a casino patron made the case more serious than a standard theft investigation. It also raised security questions around cage areas, vault access and staff involvement in casino cash-handling environments.
Case Now Moves Back to Missouri
Vanleer’s arrest in Illinois means the case is expected to move back through the Missouri court system. Authorities will now need to address custody transfer and the pending Cooper County charges.
The Isle of Capri Casino robbery has drawn attention because of the amount of cash involved and the allegation that a casino employee was connected to the crime. With both accused men now arrested, prosecutors can move toward the next stage of the case.
No conviction has been reported, and the allegations remain subject to court proceedings. The next major development will be whether Vanleer is returned to Missouri and how the two cases proceed in Cooper County court.
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