Illegal immigrant connected to Chinatown Crime spree held without bond in Hinsdale robbery: ‘Violently ripped a gold necklace off her neck’
An illegal immigrant accused of a brazen daytime necklace snatching in Hinsdale has been ordered held in custody after prosecutors allege he attacked a woman from behind, ripped a $2,000-to-$3,000 gold necklace from her neck and fled the scene.
Jesus Enrique Paredes-Castillo, 24, appeared in court July 16, where a judge granted prosecutors’ request to deny pretrial release as the robbery case moves forward.
Paredes-Castillo, who prosecutors say was living in Chicago at an address verified by the DuPage Policy Journal to offer Section 8 subsidized housing, has been charged with robbery, a Class 2 felony offense.
According to sources familiar with the case, Paredes-Castillo speaks little or no English and was previously encountered by immigration officials in 2024 while attempting to enter the United States from Mexico at the Ysleta Port of Entry in El Paso, Texas.
The case has drawn additional attention as investigators examine whether Paredes-Castillo may be connected to a broader pattern of necklace-snatching robberies.The Chicago Police Department issued a community alert following Paredes-Castillo’s arrest, noting a series of similar incidents across several neighborhoods.
Court documents state Paredes-Castillo is a suspect in “3-5 similar robberies in Chinatown” involving gold chains allegedly taken from the necks of middle-aged women. Fox 32 Chicago reports similar incidents were reported from early to mid-July, including after the Hinsdale incident.
Based on the allegations, prosecutors requested that the court deny pretrial release, arguing that Paredes-Castillo’s release would pose a “real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community” under Illinois law.
According to court documents, the Hinsdale incident happened on July 10 at about 6:25 p.m., when Hinsdale police responded to a reported robbery outside Every Day’s A Sundae at 14 W. Hinsdale Ave.Prosecutors allege Paredes-Castillo walked up behind a woman who was sitting on a bench with friends outside the ice cream shop and pulled a gold necklace from her neck.
Every Day’s A Sundae in Hinsdale, where prosecutors allege Jesus Enrique Paredes-Castillo approached a woman outside the business and removed a gold necklace from her neck. (DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office)
The court filing states that the victim “felt the suspect's hand on the back of her neck, felt a slight tug, and then heard a snap” before discovering that the necklace was missing.
The necklace was valued between “$2,000.00 and $3,000.00,” according to prosecutors.
The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office said Paredes-Castillo allegedly fled the area on foot before entering a gray 2015 Ford Focus and leaving the scene.
“It is alleged that Mr. Paredes-Castillo approached an innocent woman who was out enjoying an evening with friends, violently ripped a gold necklace off her neck and then fled the scene,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said in a press release. “Random crimes, such as alleged in this case, destroy a community’s sense of security and will not be tolerated in DuPage County.”
Investigators identified Paredes-Castillo as a suspect after reviewing witness statements and surveillance footage which allegedly showed the suspect walking in the area of downtown Hinsdale.
According to the court filing, surveillance footage showed a person matching the suspect description, including “distinctive tattoos on his right forearm, right hand, and left shin/calf” and a “mullet-style haircut.”
Authorities later obtained a GPS tracking warrant for the Ford Focus and, on July 15, detectives saw Paredes-Castillo get in and out of the vehicle at a Chicago gas station, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Investigators then followed the vehicle to 3852 W. Gladys Avenue in Chicago where he was staying. Public property records identify the address as a multi-unit building that participates in the Section 8 housing program.
During an interview after being arrested, prosecutors say Paredes-Castillo admitted to the robbery.
“Defendant confirmed that he was in Hinsdale on July 10, 2026,” the court filing reads. “Defendant said that he did steal a necklace from a woman's neck while there. He did not go to Hinsdale with the intention of stealing, but decided to do it when he saw the necklace. After grabbing the necklace he ran. Defendant said that the same day as he stole the necklace, he sold it to a store in Chicago for $400.00.”
The court filing also states detectives found “a large amount of rings” inside the vehicle during the investigation.Court documents reference Paredes-Castillo’s prior criminal history noting he was the defendant in a 2024 theft case in Maplewood, Mo., with the outcome of that case listed as unknown.
Court records show Paredes-Castillo was listed in 2024 as “Alien Inadmissibility Under Section 212,” meaning immigration officials had determined he was barred from entry under certain rules. Some individuals, however, may seek waivers that allow them to overcome those restrictions.
“I'm sure they have probably a little bit different immigration or local things in Texas than we do here,” Paul Darrah, communications manager for the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, told the DuPage Policy Journal.
However, Darrah said the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office did not know Paredes-Castillo's immigration status.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have accused Illinois’ sanctuary policies of allowing the release of more than 1,700 illegal immigrants with criminal histories since Jan. 20, including individuals charged with serious offenses such as homicide, assault, robbery, weapons crimes and sexual offenses.
ICE has called on Illinois officials to honor immigration detainers for more than 4,000 individuals currently in state custody, arguing that failure to do so threatens public safety.
Paredes-Castillo’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 3, before Judge Mia McPherson.
“That will be his arraignment where he will enter a plea of either guilty or not guilty,” Darrah said.
Darrah said Paredes-Castillo’s plea will determine the next steps in the case.
“From there, depends on what he pleads, but there will a status date probably,” he said.
Kristina McCloy, a Hinsdale resident and founder of Concerned Parents of Illinois, took to social media to commend local law enforcement for apprehending Paredes-Castillo while also criticizing public policy she connected to the incident.
“Great job to the Hinsdale Police Department for apprehending the suspect in this robbery,” McCloy said on Facebook.
“Jesus Enrique Paredes-Castillo, who does not speak English, was picked up at his last known address in the 3800 block of W. Gladys Avenue in Chicago's West Garfield Park. The crime itself was a violent attack: Paredes-Castillo allegedly approached an innocent woman enjoying a Sunday evening with friends and kids around, walked behind her on a bench, and ripped a gold rope necklace off her neck before fleeing. That area where Paredes-Castillo was residing has a notably high concentration of Section 8 affordable housing and illegal aliens.”
McCloy connected the crime to Gov. JB Pritzker’s efforts to override local zoning controls and encourage the development of more multi-family housing in suburban areas.
“This is exactly the kind of impact from policies like the BUILD Act that Governor Pritzker wants to bring to Hinsdale - and has said he will continue pushing when the legislative session returns,” the post reads. “While Mayor Greg Hart prefers ‘talks,’ many surrounding towns have already passed formal resolutions opposing it. Greg is too busy inviting Democrat House Leader Chris Welch - whose job it is to usher this bill through the House on behalf of Pritzker - to the Hinsdale July 4th ceremony where Welch spoke, and bragging about it.”