CHICAGO — A Venezuelan migrant who mugged a woman near Goose Island last fall has been sentenced to three years in prison — but under Illinois law, he’ll walk free before the crime’s one-year anniversary.
Anthony Laya-Alvarado, also known as Elvis Laya, pleaded guilty to a felony robbery charge stemming from a necklace snatching incident that occurred in September 2023 near the Clybourn Corridor. The 37-year-old female victim was walking in the 900 block of West Weed Street around 10:50 a.m. when Laya-Alvarado allegedly ripped her necklace and fled on a motorized bike operated by an accomplice.
How Police Caught the Suspect
Shortly after the robbery, a Chicago police officer spotted two men on a motorized bike near Marcy Court and Cortland Street, matching the suspects’ description. While the driver managed to escape, Laya-Alvarado was caught and found in possession of the woman’s yellow necklace with an “R” pendant.
Police say the mugging was part of a string of similar thefts in the Loop and lakefront neighborhoods occurring around the same time.
Sentencing and Early Release Timeline
Cook County Judge Anjana Hansen sentenced Laya-Alvarado to three years in prison after he entered a plea deal. However, under Illinois’ early release policies, that sentence is effectively reduced:
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50% of the term is deducted for good behavior.
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Laya-Alvarado also received 393 days of credit for time served and participating in pretrial programs.
According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, his release date is scheduled for September 19, 2025 — just two days before the one-year anniversary of the offense.
Recurring Pattern of Street Robberies
The necklace snatching was reportedly one of at least seven similar robberies carried out within a short span in Chicago’s core neighborhoods. These included thefts near downtown, the lakefront, and high-foot traffic commercial zones — often targeting women walking alone during the daytime.
Though police linked Laya-Alvarado to one incident, the broader string of robberies remains under investigation, with authorities continuing to search for additional suspects involved in similar snatch-and-grab attacks.
Do you think Illinois’ early release policies go too far — or strike the right balance? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your opinion in the comments at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
