
A team of up to 10 suspects robbed and kidnapped three victims at gunpoint in Cook County before restraining, beating and torturing them at a Woodstock home.
The incident occurred on the evening of February 10 at 622 East Northwest Highway in Des Plaines.
The Des Plaines Police Department said six to 10 masked suspects, who were armed with rifles and handguns, entered the car dealership.
Two men and a woman were robbed of their belongings.
Two of the victims own the dealership and the third victim is an employee, police said.
The offenders then bound the victims’ hands and feet, covered their heads and forced them into a vehicle.
The victims were taken to a home in Woodstock after being forced into the car, prosecutors said.
Once at the residence, the victims were restrained, beaten and tortured by several of the suspects until the early morning hours of February 11.
The suspects repeatedly beat them and burned them with a hot metal object, police said.
The victims were told they had to pay the offenders a substantial amount of money and were threatened with further violence if they did not pay, police said.
They were later returned to the car dealership and contacted the police department.
Investigators believe the victims, two of which own a car dealership, were specifically targeted.
Police have identified two of the suspects involved as George P. Athanasakos, 24, of Wood Dale, and Brandon D. Bratcher, 27, of Hanover Park.
Athanasakos and Bratcher were recognized by one of the victims during the attack.
The two had prior dealings with the victims involving buying and refurbishing vehicles, police said.
Athanasakos and Bratcher were charged with three counts of aggravated kidnapping and three counts of armed robbery.
Bratcher was additionally charged with one count of residential burglary.
Athanasakos was taken into custody last month in Palatine and Batcher was taken into custody on Wednesday in Arlington Heights.
Both Athanasakos and Bratcher are being held without bond in the Cook County Jail.