CHICAGO – A Chicago man was sentenced to seven years in prison after robbing a U.S. postal worker at gunpoint two years ago in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.
What we know:
The robbery happened on Nov. 10, 2023 in the 900 block of North Francisco Avenue, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois.
The letter carrier was getting out of her USPS vehicle when Richard Thompson flashed a handgun and demanded her USPS-issued Arrow Key, which opens certain postal boxes, before fleeing the scene.
Surveillance images were released of Thompson and a $150,000 reward was offered to anyone who had information leading to his arrest.
(United States Postal Inspection Service)
Thompson was arrested in May 2024 while he was on pre-trial release for an unrelated criminal charge. He has been held in federal custody since then.
Last year, Thompson pleaded guilty to the federal robbery charge. On Thursday, a U.S. District judge sentenced Thompson to seven years and two months in federal prison.
What they’re saying:
“The U.S. Postal Service serves a critically important government function and its employees must be allowed to deliver mail to the American people safely and securely,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros. “Furthermore, stealing a mailbox Arrow Key is a serious crime; it gives criminals access to certain mailboxes of everyday citizens, who rely on the Postal Service to receive their mail.”
The Source: The information in this article came from U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois and previous FOX 32 reporting.