2 men charged, casino employee in jail for Isle of Capri robbery in Boonville

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two men have been charged in connection with the armed robbery at the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville earlier this week.

Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, 21, of Columbia has been charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and tampering with evidence. He is being held at the Cooper County Jail on a $1.3 million bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

Charges came out later in the day for Hollis Vanleer Jr., 20, of Normal, Illinois, court filings say.

Vanleer is charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and first-degree assault. He was not listed on the jail roster on Friday afternoon. A $1.3 million bond was set for the warrant for his arrest. The Missouri State Highway Patrol later wrote in a press release that Vanleer's current location "is not known."

MSHP wrote in the release that Vanleer "should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who encounters Vanleer should immediately call 911 and not approach him."

The probable cause statement says Charles had help set up the robbery for about a month before it occurred. The two men who went in the casino on Wednesday with guns.

The statement says $1.28 million was taken from the main bank drawer and put into a black duffle bag. A patron at the casino allegedly tackled one of the men who was carrying an AR-15-style rifle, but the second suspect hit the man and the pair were able to get away in a Ford Taurus. The Ford was later abandoned in Howard County.

Law enforcement found a receipt in the vehicle and were able to determine a card used in the purchase belonged to Charles, the statement says.

Charles was identified as an employee of the casino on Thursday by the Missouri Gaming Commission, the statement says.

The money was allegedly sent out of Cooper County, but gave law enforcement the location, the statement says.  He also allegedly claimed to have bought “homemade explosives” from someone to use as a distraction in the robbery.

Vanleer's court document says security camera footage showed him with Charles buying the items that were listed in the receipt. The statement says Vanfleer "fled the state" and had spoken with someone about creating an alibi.

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