CHICAGO – Richard Thompson, 54, is headed to federal prison for more than seven years after holding up a U.S. Postal Service carrier in Chicago last November. The brazen robbery, which occurred on the afternoon of November 10, 2023, in the 900 block of North Francisco Avenue, left the carrier fearing for her life and compromised the security of local mail.
According to federal prosecutors, Thompson approached the carrier as she was exiting her USPS vehicle. When the carrier attempted to retreat inside, Thompson followed, blocking her exit. He then brandished a handgun and forcibly took her USPS-issued Arrow Key – a master key that provides access to multiple postal collection boxes. This isn’t just about a stolen key; it’s about opening the door for further criminal activity, targeting the mail of everyday citizens.
Thompson wasn’t exactly a model citizen even *before* this incident. He was already on pre-trial release in Cook County Circuit Court for an unrelated criminal charge when he decided to add federal robbery to his rap sheet. It’s a pattern of disregard for the law, and Judge Andrea R. Wood clearly took that into account when handing down the sentence. Thompson was arrested in May 2024 and has been cooling his heels in federal custody ever since.
U.S. District Judge Wood sentenced Thompson to seven years and two months in federal prison on Thursday. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew S. Boutros, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Branka Cimesa prosecuted the case, ensuring Thompson faced justice.
“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,” Boutros stated. “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 U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will work closely with our law enforcement partners to prosecute to the full extent of the law those individuals who seek to gain access to the public’s mail whether through violence, theft, or fraud.”
Mendonça echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the dedication of postal inspectors and their partners in protecting both postal employees and the public. “This sentencing is another example of the roles postal inspectors and our law enforcement partners play in protecting Postal Service employees and customers,” she said. “As Postal Service employees continue to play an integral role in our communities, we are clear in our resolve to aggressively investigate anyone who brings harm to these invaluable public servants.” The Chicago Police Department also provided valuable assistance in the investigation.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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