Man charged with robbing Chase Bank in West Loop

A 30-year-old man has been charged with robbing a Chase Bank branch Monday afternoon in the West Loop.

Anthony Fontana, who is believed to be homeless, was charged with bank robbery in a federal complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, according to the FBI.

About 1:15 p.m. Monday, Fontana walked into the bank at 300 S. Riverside Pl. and approached a teller and gave them an orange note saying, “I have a twenty two Caliber pistol. I want you to hand me money now!” according to the complaint.

The teller, who recognized Fontana because he had entered the bank at least three times before to drink coffee provided for patrons, handed him a stack of eleven $20 bills, according to the complaint.

Fontana left the bank with the money, and the teller called 911 and gave police a description of the suspect, according the complaint.

A short time later, Chicago Police officers saw a man matching the description of the robber, later identified as Fontana, about one block south of the bank, according to the complaint. They arrested him and found the stolen cash in his back pocket.

A Riverside Plaza security guard saw Fontana writing on a notepad in the lobby before the robbery and told him to leave, but Fontana said, “I need to go to my bank first,” according to the complaint.

The teller and security guard identified Fontana as the robber, according to the complaint.