Thompson Charged in US Postal Service Robbery

CHICAGO — Richard Thompson, 52, of Chicago, is behind bars after allegedly robbing a U.S. Postal Service employee at gunpoint in Chicago.

According to an indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Thompson used a dangerous weapon during the robbery on November 10, 2023, putting the Postal Service employee’s life in jeopardy.

The indictment charges Thompson with one count of robbery of a Postal Service employee, punishable by a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison.

Thompson was arrested on Thursday and pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Thursday afternoon. He was ordered to remain detained in federal custody.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary McDonnell, and the indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

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.

A status hearing is set for June 14, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood.