71-Year-Old Man Who Won Big at Jake’s 58 Assaulted in Parking Lot by 24-Year-Old
Posted on: September 9, 2025, 11:49h.
Last updated on: September 9, 2025, 01:42h.
- Jake’s 58 Casino was the site of an attempted robbery on Saturday afternoon
- A 71-year-old man was the victim in the incident, police say
- A 24-year-old was quickly apprehended and charged with felony robbery
A 71-year-old man was the victim of a robbery outside Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel in Islandia, NY, after reportedly winning big on one of the property’s slot-like video lottery terminals (VLTs).
The Suffolk County Police Department arrested a person in a case stemming from an incident that occurred on Saturday, September 6, in the Jake’s 58 parking lot. Law enforcement responded to the Long Island casino around 3:40 pm after bystanders reported an aggravated robbery.
After arriving on the scene, police were told that a young, black male had robbed a 71-year-old after leaving the casino. Bystanders said the man initially reached into the victim’s pockets and ran off.
After realizing he had only stolen about $30 in cash, the assailant, later identified as Aaron Hayes, 24, of Port Jefferson Station, returned and tackled the elderly man to the ground. Two good Samaritans intervened, which resulted in Hayes allegedly giving up the fight and fleeing.
Following an investigation from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fourth Squad, police identified, located, and arrested Hayes. He’s been charged with third-degree robbery.
Lower-Level Charge
New York State court records show Hayes is due in Suffolk County District Court next Monday, September 15, at 9 am. No defense attorney is listed.
A third-degree felony robbery charge is the lowest robbery charge in New York. A Class D felony, the charge is for robberies not involving the use of a deadly weapon, an accomplice, or a robbery resulting in physical injury. Family members of the victim told CBS News that he didn’t sustain injuries.
Persons found guilty of a third-degree robbery felony in New York are typically sentenced to probation. Prison sentences are usually reserved for repeat offenders or those who have a prior felony conviction within the past 10 years.
New York’s unified court system doesn’t show any prior records for Hayes.
Officials with Jake’s 58, owned and operated by Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. (Suffolk OTB), said patron safety is of utmost importance.
The safety of our patrons is our highest priority at Jake’s 58. Our security team was pleased to assist the Suffolk County Police Department in making a very fast arrest in the case, and we will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement as they further investigate the incident,” Suffolk OTB and Jake’s 58 President and CEO Phil Boyle said in a statement.
Jake’s 58 currently offers about 1,000 gaming machines. That will soon change to include significantly more gaming positions.
Jake’s Expansion
Jake’s 58 isn’t pursuing one of the three downstate New York casino licenses that include Las Vegas slot machines, live-dealer table games, and retail sports betting. Instead, the VLT outfit is amid a $210 million expansion that will double the number of slot-like games to 2,000.
The project additionally includes renovating all 210 hotel guestrooms, a new parking structure, sound barriers to appease residential neighbors, a 3,500-square-foot events center, a 200-seat food court, and a 17,500-square-foot VIP lounge.
Jake’s will remain an adults-only property once the expansion is complete next year.
Last Comments ( 2 )
I do go to Jake’s quite often as it is close by my house. They do have excellent security and will escort you to your car if you want them to. They even have signs stating that by the cashiers. It’s also recommended that you get a check instead of large sums of money. They can also issue both check and cash if you want cash to continue playing.
Great insights. Thanks, Harris.