Gambling Victory Turns Sour: Casino Winner Assaulted, $38,000 Stolen; Perpetrator Jailed
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Published on: June 4, 2025, 6:15am.
Last updated on: June 4, 2025, 6:15am.
Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilcCheck Out Our Latest CoverageGaming Industry CrimeJudicial DecisionsMinnesota's Rough Night* Robbery Outside Home Post-Casino Win* Aggressive Assault Results in $38K Theft* Prison for Aiding in Violent Casino Heist
In a chilling turn of events, a Minneapolis resident, seeking anonymity due to ongoing safety concerns, has endured a brutal assault and had $38,000 in casino winnings stolen after celebrating a big win at the nearby Treasure Island Casino.
Following a plea deal in January, Shawn Eric Lewis Jr., 37, was sentenced to 4 years and 4 months in prison for his role in the horrifying incident that unfolded early on the morning of Dec. 10, 2023. He pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery, resulting in the dismissal of two other charges.
A Night of Fear and Violence
Upon returning home from the tribal casino in Welch, Minn., a red pickup truck suddenly appeared. Two attackers exited and proceeded to viciously assault the victim, demanding cash as he was punched and kicked on the sidewalk[1]. The assailants made off with the victim's casino winnings and left him bloodied and bruised. Not only did the attackers target the casino winner, but they also threatened his girlfriend and her niece with a gun, warning them to retreat indoors or face shooting[1].
The attack was so brutal that the victim, still recovering from physical injuries, described feeling like "prey," believing he was on the verge of death[1].
The Conspiracy Unfolds
Investigators examining the crime soon discovered that the victim had encountered a familiar face, Philip William Davids Sr., at the casino earlier in the evening[1]. Suspecting Davids' behavior, the victim tried to lose him in the restroom[1]. Additional evidence revealed that numerous phone calls were exchanged between Davids, Shawn Lewis Sr., and other suspects around the time of the robbery[1], providing supporting evidence of their involvement in the conspiracy.
The robbers' red pickup truck was pursued by law enforcement following the crime, leading to arrests and the recovery of stolen funds. Surveillance footage and phone records were instrumental in establishing the involvement of Lewis Jr. and the other suspects[1]. Court proceedings for the remaining co-defendants are scheduled to take place later this year.
[1] Enrichment Data: The investigation unveiled at least five suspects' involvement in the conspiracy to rob the victim. In addition to Shawn Eric Lewis Jr., Shawn Lewis Sr., and Philip William Davids Sr., other individuals suspected of being involved are yet to be identified. The status of the other suspects is that arrests have been made, and court proceedings are in progress.
- The brutal assault and theft of $38,000 from a Minnesota resident, after a big win at Treasure Island Casino, have made headlines in Minnesota crime news.
- The perpetrator of the violent robbery, Shawn Eric Lewis Jr., was sentenced to 4 years and 4 months in prison for aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery.
- The latest addition to general news discusses the ongoing investigation into the robbery outside a home after a casino win, which took place at the Treasure Island Casino in Welch, Minnesota.
- Car-accidents and poker might seem unrelated, but they are part of different news sections in the wake of the latest Minnesota crime news.
- The casino industry, including the Treasure Island Casino, has been following the news of the violent robbery and the ongoing trials closely, as it sheds light on casino-and-gambling security measures.
- In this tense and eventful night, the victim was aggressively assaulted and robbed of $38,000, totaling to a theft that falls under the crime-and-justice section of general news.
- As the investigations into the violent robbery progress, discussions about potential casino-games rule changes to ensure safety have become a topic in the gaming industry crime section of news sites like casinoorgphilc.com.
