By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times

Ryan Corey Bailey is accused of targeting and robbing a West Chester-area resident heading home from Harrah’s Casino.

A West Chester-area resident traveling home from Harrah’s Casino was trailed by three men, one of whom is now in custody after allegedly robbing the victim when he stopped at a convenience store, police said Wednesday.

Police from the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department said the incident occurred Dec. 27 at 7:56 p.m. When officers responded to the parking lot of the Wawa in the 1500 block of Paoli Pike, East Goshen Township, the victim gave this account:

He said he was approached by a man asking for directions, and as he began to provide them, the man said he had a gun and would shoot the victim unless he turned over his wallet and cell phone. After surrendering those items, the victim said the man entered the passenger area of a silver car that drove around the back of the Wawa and left the area, police said.

Investigators determined that a credit card stolen from the victim was used for multiple, unauthorized transactions, and video obtained from a retail location in Delaware County led detectives to a Chester residence, police said. With assistance from Chester City police, Philadelphia police and the U.S. Marshal’s Office, Westtown-East Goshen investigators identified Ryan Corey Bailey Jr., 24, of Philadelphia, as the alleged robber, police said.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant, charging Bailey with robbery, criminal conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, access device fraud, identity theft and terrorist threats.  He is currently being held in Philadelphia on unrelated charges, and a detainer has been filed for the Chester County charges, police said.

The silver vehicle involved in this case was located and seized, police said, adding that the investigation is continuing.

Court records show that the new charges will constitute a probation violation for Bailey, who was sentenced to 111 days in prison in September 2011 followed by two years’ probation. According to published reports, he posed as a bogus Comcast salesman in Delaware County, collecting  payments for cable installations that never occurred.