Prairie State Wire

A man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for the assault and robbery of a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in Harvey, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Malik Washington, 26, from Calumet City, Illinois, committed the crime on October 23, 2023.

According to court documents, Washington approached the mail carrier under the pretense of asking for rubber bands before attempting to snatch a box from the carrier's bag. When the mail carrier resisted, Washington drew a semiautomatic handgun and demanded the USPS-issued Arrow Key, which opens postal collection boxes. The mail carrier complied with Washington's demand, who then fled with the key. Law enforcement arrested him four days later and recovered the stolen key.

Washington pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal robbery charge. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly sentenced him to five years and ten months in federal prison.

The sentencing was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Harvey Police Department provided significant assistance in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Merin represented the government.

"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," stated U.S. Attorney Boutros. "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 emphasized that "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." She added that ensuring "safety of Postal Service employees and protection of our nation’s mail system is paramount" and assured continued aggressive investigation into threats against postal workers.