Mail Carrier Held Up at Gunpoint: Washington Gets 6 Years

HARVEY, IL – A U.S. Postal Service carrier delivering mail in a quiet Chicago suburb became the target of a brazen armed robbery last October, and the perpetrator is now facing a hefty price. Malik Washington, 26, of Calumet City, Illinois, was sentenced to five years and ten months in federal prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to federal robbery charges.

The incident unfolded on October 23, 2023, in Harvey, Illinois. According to court documents, Washington initially approached the mail carrier under the guise of needing rubber bands. The ruse quickly turned sinister when Washington attempted to snatch a package from the carrier’s shoulder bag. When the carrier resisted, Washington escalated the situation, brandishing a semiautomatic handgun and pointing it directly at the carrier’s stomach.

“Give me the key,” Washington allegedly demanded, referring to the USPS-issued Arrow Key – a universal key granting access to postal collection boxes. The terrified mail carrier complied, handing over the key, and Washington vanished with the stolen property. Thankfully, law enforcement moved swiftly, arresting Washington just four days later and recovering the crucial key.

U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly handed down the sentence in Chicago federal court. Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, made it clear this type of attack will not be tolerated. “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,” Boutros stated. “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.”

Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, echoed that sentiment. “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,” Mendonça said. “Safety of Postal Service employees and protection of our nation’s mail system is paramount.”

The Harvey Police Department played a key role in the investigation, providing valuable assistance to federal authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Merin prosecuted the case. This conviction serves as a stark warning: targeting postal workers, and disrupting the delivery of mail, carries serious federal consequences. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, alongside its partners, remains vigilant in protecting both its employees and the integrity of the nation’s mail system.

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