Second man admits role in drug robbery that led to Munster man’s death

A second man has admitted a role in a drug robbery that led to a Munster’s man’s death earlier this year.

Ronald W. Robinson, 34, of East Chicago, signed a plea agreement filed Oct. 15. He admitted he conspired with another man only identified as “Fathead” to rob marijuana from Michael Fromm, 53, of Munster, at an apartment on the first block of Rimbach Street in Hammond. It was a suspected drug house, according to police.

Fromm, a well-known drug addiction counselor, was fatally shot in the chest during the Jan. 18 robbery.

Court documents do not identify the alleged triggerman. A gun was flashed and fired when Robinson and “Fathead” were near Fromm, it states.

If a judge accepts, the plea calls for Robinson to be charged with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 2 felony. In exchange, prosecutors would drop two murder counts.

His prison term would be capped at 23 years, to be argued at sentencing before Judge Natalie Bokota on Nov. 19. A murder charge would have carried a 45-to-65-year penalty.

“Fathead” remains unidentified. A third man, co-defendant Arvell Greer, signed a plea agreement in August. He is also scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 19.

Witnesses said Fromm showed up around 6 a.m. at an alleged drug house on Rimbach Street in downtown Hammond near the state line with a female prostitute, a large amount of marijuana, cash and crack cocaine, court documents state.

Fromm shared his crack cocaine stash with those at the house, a probable cause affidavit said. When it ran out, he told another man to go buy some more drugs, the document said. They started smoking and drinking again when witnesses described a loud “boom” and all ran out the back of the house, records show.

Police found Fromm face down in a pool of blood around 10 a.m., charges allege.

A witness told police three men forced their way into the home, robbing and shooting Fromm before fleeing, charging documents said. Witnesses and nearby surveillance video led police to Robinson, who said he went there after hearing there was a man with a large amount of marijuana he could buy, records state.

As an addiction counselor, Fromm was able to relate to clients due to his own struggles with a “personal understanding,” according to his obituary.

He was described as a “ingenious, friendly and a young soul,” it said.