From the U.S. Attorney:
MAN SENTENCED TO NEARLY SIX YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ASSAULTING AND ROBBING MAIL CARRIER IN CHICAGO SUBURB
CHICAGO — A United States District Court judge sitting in Chicago has sentenced a man to nearly six years in federal prison for assaulting and robbing a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in a Chicago suburb.
MALIK WASHINGTON robbed the mail carrier on Oct. 23, 2023, in Harvey, Ill.
The mail carrier was delivering mail on his route when Washington approached and initially asked for rubber bands.
Washington then reached out to grab a box from a bag the mail carrier wore around his shoulder, prompting the mail carrier to pull away.
Washington drew a semiautomatic handgun from his sweatshirt and pointed it at the mail carrier’s stomach, telling him to give up his USPS-issued Arrow Key, which is a universal key that opens postal collection boxes.
The mail carrier complied with the demand, and Washington fled the area with the key.
Law enforcement arrested Washington four days later and recovered the stolen key.
Washington, 26, of Calumet City, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal robbery charge.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced Washington to five years and ten months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Harvey, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Merin.
“The U.S. Postal Service is a critical government function and its employees must be allowed to deliver mail to the American people safely and securely,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals who use violence against postal carriers to gain access to the public’s mail will be held accountable.”
“The recent conviction and sentencing of Malik Washington demonstrate the tenacity and determination of the United States Postal Inspection Service in the agency’s pursuit for justice,” said USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça.
“Safety of Postal Service employees and protection of our nation’s mail system is paramount to the mission of the Inspection Service. U.S. Postal Inspectors will continue to aggressively investigate those individuals who wish to do harm to public servants of the Postal Service. With the help of our local, state, and federal partners, we will safeguard the public’s trust in the U.S. Mail system.”
