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8 arrested in daring New Jersey casino heist

By WTOP Staff

WAYNE PARRY
Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A recently fired casino security guard used his knowledge of when and where large sums of money would change hands to help plan and pull off a daring robbery that netted more than $180,000, authorities said Thursday.

Eight people were arrested in the July 21 gunpoint robbery of Caesars Atlantic City that touched off a three-state manhunt, New Jersey State Police said. The search ended with a Delaware state trooper being shot; the bulletproof vest he was wearing saved his life.

Authorities said Izyiah Plummer, 19, of Atlantic City, pointed a gun at casino employees as he and Aaron Evans, 24, of Pleasantville, grabbed two plastic boxes of cash with more than $180,000 inside. The robbery took place during a routine money exchange at the casino.

They ran outside to a waiting car driven by Nathaniel Greenlee, 21, of Bear, Delaware; and containing passenger Donovan Jackson, 20, of Wilmington, Delaware, authorities said.

Plummer was a security guard who had been fired two weeks earlier, though investigators declined to say why. It was not immediately clear whether any of the suspects had hired lawyers.

At a news conference Thursday in Atlantic City, authorities said the suspects, particularly Plummer, appeared to know exactly what they were doing.

“It seems they had intimate knowledge of what would take place,” said New Jersey State Police Capt. Christopher Leone. “They pulled up to a door on a side street not frequently used, and they had detailed knowledge where to look for the money.”

Plummer and Evans were in and out of the casino within four minutes, Leone said.

But within hours, detectives came up with the name of at least one of the suspects, aided by a Caesars security guard who recognized one of them, Leone added. The two suspects who grabbed the cash inside the casino were each wearing masks.

All told, authorities have recovered about $150,000 of the stolen cash or merchandise purchased with it, including $50,000 worth of marijuana that was apparently intended for re-sale, high-end jewelry, sneakers and clothing.

Detectives arrested Plummer at his home the day after the heist, along with two 19-year-olds from Pleasantville: Monique Kelly and Dwayne Morgan. Authorities seized $43,000 in stolen cash; .38-caliber rounds and articles of clothing worn by the suspects during the commission of the crime.

On July 23, Evans and Lance Rogers, 20, of Atlantic City, were arrested at their homes. According to detectives, Rogers received stolen currency from Plummer. Investigators said they obtained a search warrant for Evans’ residence and seized more stolen cash and various items connecting him to the robbery.

On August 6, state police from New Jersey and Delaware executed a search warrant at Nathaniel Greenlee’s residence in Delaware. When Delaware state troopers breached the front door, Nathaniel Greenlee’s father, John Greenlee, shot one of them, according to authorities.

John Greenlee was arrested by Delaware State Police. The trooper was released from the hospital that day.

On the same day, detectives discovered that Nathaniel Greenlee was employed by a large retail store in Concord Township, Pennsylvania. They found his car, which is believed to have been used in the crime, at the store and arrested him.

On Aug. 8, Donavon Jackson, 20, of Wilmington, Delaware, was arrested at home. Authorities said they found cash believed to be a part of the stolen currency and property purchased with proceeds from the crime.

On Aug. 13, Myles Coleman, 23, of Atlantic City, surrendered to detectives in Atlantic City. According to detectives, Evans, Greenlee, and Jackson went to Coleman’s residence immediately after the robbery.

Plummer, Evans, Jackson and Morgan were being held in the Atlantic County Jail on robbery, assault and weapons charges. Greenlee is awaiting extradition from Pennsylvania on similar charges. The other three suspects were released with a future court date on a charge of receiving stolen property.

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Wayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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