ILLINOIS STATE POLICE INVESTIGATION LEADS TO 49 YEAR SENTENCE IN CASINO QUEEN SHOOTING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2025
March 21, 2025
BELLEVILLE – An Illinois State Police (ISP) investigation led to a 49-year sentence of a Georgia man convicted of armed robbery at the Casino Queen in 2017.
A jury convicted Daryl S. Muhammad, 48, of Marietta, Georgia, of armed robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon in November 2024. Today, a St. Clair County judge sentenced Muhammad to 44 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the Armed Robbery charge and will need to serve 85% of that sentence. Additionally, he was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon charge.
“We appreciate the assistance of the Illinois State Police, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, and all the other agencies that came together to achieve this just result. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in St. Clair County and this prosecution showed that. Finally, we thank the Court for imposing this strong sentence,” said St. Clair County State’s Attorney James Gomric.
On September 17, 2017, at approximately 2:55 a.m., three men armed with rifles entered the Casino Queen. During the robbery, an unarmed security guard was shot and over $47,000 was taken. ISP conducted a thorough investigation that led agents to Muhammad in Cobb County, Georgia. In January of 2019, Muhammad was charged and arrested.
“Dedicated ISP special agents painstakingly pursued this case, conducting a thorough investigation over several years,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Today, justice has prevailed and this now twice convicted felon will go back behind bars.”
“Congratulations to the St. Clair County States Attorney’s Office for successfully prosecuting this incredibly violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois. “This was more than a robbery—it was a violent assault on the community with military-style rifles, which is why our office cross-designated one of our prosecutors to support the great work done by the States Attorney’s Office. The community wins when state and federal authorities combine efforts to take out the most violent criminals.”
The Illinois State Police led the investigation. Special Assistant State’s Attorney John Trippi and Assistant State’s Attorney Alex Starnes prosecuted the case.
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