Tarandle Lee, Bank Robberies, Illinois 2022

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Getaway Driver in Four Robberies of Suburban Chicago Financial Institutions Convicted

A federal jury in Chicago has convicted the getaway driver in the robberies of three banks and a credit union in the Chicago suburbs. TARANDLE LEE, 45, of Bolingbrook, Ill., was found guilty of four counts of bank robbery.

The robberies took place between September 2021 and April 2022. The victims included:

BMO Harris Bank in Naperville, Ill. on September 22, 2021
Old Second Bank in Lisle, Ill. on September 28, 2021
Bank Financial in Westmont, Ill. on October 6, 2021
BMO Harris Bank in Woodridge, Ill. on January 3, 2022
DuPage Credit Union in Downers Grove, Ill. on April 14, 2022

LEE served as the getaway driver while his friend, CHARLES LAWLER, entered the financial institutions and presented demand notes.

LEE faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the four robberies he committed. His sentencing date has not yet been set.

The convictions were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting 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 Downers Grove, Ill. Police Department, Bellwood, Ill. Police Department, Woodridge, Ill. Police Department, and Villa Park, Ill. Police Department.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandro G. Ortega and Jonathan L. Shih.

LAWLER, 54, of Villa Park, Ill., pleaded guilty prior to trial to the first three robberies and stipulated to his role in the final two. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the three robberies to which he pleaded guilty. His sentencing date is set for March 11, 2025.