A man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly committing two carjackings and robbing two credit unions in Chicago. According to the indictment returned in U.S. District Court, Maurice D. Lee, Jr., is accused of carrying out these crimes in May of last year.
The indictment alleges that on May 10, 2024, Lee took a Toyota from a driver and robbed a credit union at the University of Illinois Chicago. A week later, on May 17, 2024, he allegedly repeated the offenses with another Toyota and credit union robbery at the same location. In both instances, Lee is accused of brandishing a handgun.
Lee faces multiple charges including two counts of carjacking, two counts of robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Each firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, totaling 28 years if convicted on all counts. The robbery charges carry up to 20 years each, while each carjacking count could result in up to 15 years.
Following his arrest two days after the second robbery, Lee was held in state custody until being arrested last month on federal charges. He remains detained without bond and is awaiting trial in federal court. His arraignment is scheduled for July 7, 2025.
The announcement of the indictment was made by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, along with Douglas S. DePodesta from the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. The University of Illinois Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Police Department provided assistance in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Asheeka Desai will represent the government.
The public is reminded that an indictment does not equate to guilt; Lee is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
