Man Indicted in Federal Court for Allegedly Carjacking Two Vehicles and Robbing Two Credit Unions in Chicago

CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for allegedly carjacking two vehicles and robbing two credit unions in Chicago.

MAURICE D. LEE, JR., committed the carjackings and robberies in May of last year, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  The first carjacking and robbery occurred on May 10, 2024, when Lee took a Toyota from a driver and robbed a credit union at the University of Illinois Chicago, the indictment alleges.  The second carjacking and robbery occurred on May 17, 2024, when Lee took a Toyota and robbed another credit union at the University of Illinois Chicago, the indictment states.  Lee allegedly brandished a handgun in all the carjackings and robberies. 

The indictment charges Lee, 32, of Chicago, with two counts of carjacking, two counts of robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  Each firearm count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, resulting in a total mandatory minimum sentence of 28 years in federal prison.  Each robbery count is punishable by up to 20 years, while each carjacking count is punishable by up to 15 years.

Lee was arrested two days after the second robbery.  He was in state custody until his arrest last month in the federal case.  He remains detained without bond awaiting trial in federal court.  Arraignment is set for July 7, 2025, at 9:45 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Valuable assistance was provided by the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Asheeka Desai.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.