By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR – Three men were charged Thursday with charges including armed robbery for the April 1 heist at a charity poker game, and could face up to life in prison if convicted.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Nickolas Jonathan Frederick, 30, and Daniel William Frederick, 29, both of Dearborn Heights, and Michael Eugene Pennington, 26 of Flat Rock were charged with a host of felonies including armed robbery, felonious assault and firearms violations.
Taylor Police Chief Mary Sclabassi said officers responded about 1 a.m. April 1 to reports of an armed robbery at Momo’s Poker Room, 5841 Telegraph Road. Players and witnesses told police that two men who had been playing earlier Thursday evening returned wearing masks and brandishing handguns.
“They demanded that everyone get on the floor and proceeded to rob the group,” Sclabassi said.
The men left with table money, cash from the charity’s drawer and money taken from players.
Police worked “around the clock,” Sclabassi said, and on Saturday arrested Nickolas and Daniel Frederick after locating the brothers in Dearborn Heights, along with Pennington – who allegedly had been involved “after the fact” in the robbery – in Flat Rock.
Nickolas Frederick was arraigned this morning in 23rd District Court on three counts of armed robbery, 25 counts of felonious assault and felony firearm possession. He remained in custody on a $400,000 cash bond.
Daniel Frederick and Pennington were arraigned Wednesday before 23rd District Court Judge Joseph Slaven.
Frederick was charged with three counts of armed robbery, 25 counts of felonious assault, felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearms. Frederick remained in custody on $600,000 cash bond.
Pennington was charged with three counts of armed robbery and 25 counts of felonious assault, and remained in custody on $50,000 cash bond.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for April 18 before Slaven for all three defendants. A preliminary examination of evidence against them has been scheduled for April 25.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)