A Highland Park man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for committing a bank robbery where he pepper-sprayed and used a fire extinguisher on bank tellers in Northbrook.
Emeril England, 25, of Highland Park, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release after he is freed from his 12-year, 7-month prison sentence, court records show.
The Northbrook Police Department responded around 9:30 a.m. on May 28, 2025, to Huntington Bank, 1220 Meadow Road in Northbrook, for a report of a bank robbery.
A suspect, later identified as England, entered the bank and approached the tellers, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
One of the tellers greeted England, the complaint said, but the Highland Park man immediately began spraying the tellers with pepper spray.
The complaint said England then removed a fire extinguisher from a black bag and began spraying the tellers with it.
The two bank tellers immediately ran to an office and locked themselves inside.
The bank tellers told investigators they feared for their lives and were worried the suspect, who one of the tellers described as looking like rappers Lil Wayne or Lil Jon, could have a gun, the complaint said.
England allegedly stole money from the teller drawers totaling nearly $5,000 and fled the scene.
A Metra train spotted a person matching England’s description walking along the bush line near the train tracks, heading toward a silver older model four-door sedan that was parked near the train tracks approximately a half-mile away from the bank.
The vehicle had fled the scene and was spotted on automated license plate reader cameras.
The silver Toyota Avalon was registered to England at an address in Highland Park, the complaint said.
The Toyota was tracked to the 2600 block of West Touhy Avenue in Chicago, where police and the FBI executed a search warrant.
England was inside the apartment and, without being asked, told officers the items they were looking for were under a bed.
A pellet gun, dreadlocks wig, a can of pepper spray, cash and items worn by the bank robber were located during the search, the complaint said.
England was arrested and he admitted to planning and committing the robbery during an interview with investigators. He recounted in detail to investigators about his actions.
England was charged in the U.S. District Court in Chicago with multiple counts of bank robbery by force or violence.
A judge ordered England detained in federal custody pending trial and also recommended he undergo a medical and mental health evaluation.
England pleaded guilty to one charge of bank robbery in federal court on January 22, court records show.
He was formally sentenced Tuesday to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison.
Court records show England is also required to pay back $4,915 in restitution, must not consume any drugs or alcohol upon his release, and must provide a DNA sample to law enforcement.