A Venezuelan migrant, labeled “inadmissible” by U.S. authorities at the southern border in 2023, was detained after being accused by prosecutors of orchestrating an armed robbery in Lakeview through a Facebook Marketplace laptop transaction.
According to a detention filing, the 27-year-old victim arranged online to sell a MacBook for $550 and met the potential buyer at around 10:30 p.m. in front of his residence on the 700 block of West Belmont Avenue. Nineteen-year-old Maykel Gonzalez Demaria arrived alone in a blue Toyota Corolla, with the two using translation apps on their phones to communicate.
Demaria allegedly requested the victim open the front passenger door to inspect the laptop. The victim placed the MacBook on the seat but kept a hand on it as Demaria examined and powered it on. After asking for the charging block and cable and inquiring about the final price, Demaria reportedly retrieved a firearm from the back seat, racked the slide, and pointed it at the victim when told the price was $550.
Prosecutors stated the victim released the laptop, and Demaria signaled for him to close the passenger door. As he complied, Demaria allegedly racked the slide again, ejecting a live round onto the seat. The victim then watched the Corolla drive away, snapping a photo of the license plate and quickly sharing it with Chicago police.
Approximately 10 minutes later, officers located the Corolla and stopped Demaria in the 2500 block of North Cannon Drive, near the Lincoln Park Zoo. The victim was brought to the location and identified Demaria as the assailant, prosecutors said. A search of the vehicle revealed a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine, the victim’s MacBook, and the ejected round on the seat, as noted in the detention filing.
During the vehicle inventory, police also discovered five cell phones and an HP laptop, according to CPD records. The pistol was identified as stolen from Milwaukee.
Prosecutors disclosed that Demaria was declared “inadmissible” at a Laredo, Texas border crossing in November 2023. His current immigration status remains unclear. However, he was previously arrested twice in Cook Countyâin 2024 and 2025âfor driving without a license, the detention filing indicated.
Judge Rivanda Doss Beal ordered Demaria to be held on charges of armed robbery and aggravated unlawful use or possession of a weapon.
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