Man accused of robbing elderly has bail set at $250,000

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Updated: February 21, 2012 8:28AM

Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez set bail at $250,000 for a Chicago man charged in a series of home invasions targeting senior citizens in Lake County.

Vasquez heard testimony from Tony Miller’s father, Leo Miller, that his son was at a family gathering at a Carpentersville, Ill., home on Dec. 29 when federal agents showed up to arrest Miller and his alleged accomplices, Tony Ely, 23, and Sandy Ely, 40.

Leo Miller said his family, which is of Romanian heritage, scraped together a total of $29,500, which was posted as bond in the other four cases Tony Miller has pending.

Miller, 39, was charged with Tony Ely in a fifth case on Friday that alleges he and Ely robbed sisters who are 88 and 90 years old on Nov. 23 in Merrillville. A third man wasn’t identified.

Defense attorney T. Edward Page said his client has one prior felony conviction for theft 11 years ago and the state’s case is based on identification by witnesses in their 80s and 90s who picked out individuals from photo lineups.

Miller was charged as Anthony Miller, but Leo Miller said his son’s legal name is Tony Miller. Leo Miller also promised to bring his son to every court date.

Deputy prosecutor Michael Greener asked Miller whether the 5:30 a.m. raid by members of the FBI violent crimes fugitive task force was the same “family gathering” Leo Miller was talking about.

Miller said it was. Agents had been looking for the three men for several months and found Tony Miller inside a locked bedroom.

Vasquez noted that Tony Miller gave one address to arresting agents, a different address to Lake County Jail personnel and a third address to Magistrate Natalie Bokota, who presided at his initial hearing. In addition, Vasquez said because Miller has four other felony cases pending, he could be a flight risk and granted the state’s request to deviate from the standard bond schedule in setting Tony Miller’s bail.