Washington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A Minneapolis man described as the ringleader in a violent 2023 casino robbery has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for coordinating the attack that left a Mahtomedi man severely beaten.
Shawn Eric Lewis Sr., 54, was sentenced on July 21, 2025, in Washington County District Court to 67 months in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery. Prosecutors said Lewis Sr. orchestrated the robbery, targeting a 68-year-old man returning home from Treasure Island Resort & Casino with $38,000 in winnings.
The victim was ambushed in his driveway around 2:15 a.m. on Dec. 10, 2023. He was punched and kicked repeatedly during the attack, later telling the court, “I thought I was going to die.” Prosecutors said Lewis Sr., while not physically involved in the assault, served as the operation’s “hub,” coordinating between accomplices and tracking the victim’s movements.
Lewis Sr. had two prior aggravated robbery convictions and was released from prison less than 18 months before the Mahtomedi attack. Judge Siv Mjanger imposed the state’s recommended sentence, citing Lewis’ planning and orchestration of the crime.
Shawn Eric Lewis Jr., 37, of Bloomington, was sentenced in June to nearly five years for his role in the robbery. Co-defendants Tristin Tyler Jacox-Mann, 35, of Golden Valley; Deangelo Romaine Jacox, 34, of Coon Rapids; and Philip William Davids Sr. face related charges, with trials and sentencings scheduled in the coming months.
The victim’s stolen cash was later recovered by law enforcement.