Chicago streets witnessed a spate of brazen criminal activity as Maurice D. Lee, Jr. faces federal indictment for a crime spree involving two carjackings and two credit union robberies within the span of a week. According to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago, detailed by the Department of Justice, these alleged incidents took place in May of last year.
Lee, 32, a Chicago native, is attributed with a Toyota's forceful seizure on May 10, 2024, and the subsequent robbery of a credit union at the University of Illinois Chicago. Following up a week later, the indictment states Lee carried out similar crimes, wielding a handgun during. He is facing significant time behind bars, the indictment levels two counts of carjacking, two counts of robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence against him.
Each firearm charge could see Lee serving a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison, tallying up to 28 years if convicted. On top of that, the robbery and carjacking charges could add up to 20 and 15 years, respectively, per count. After the second robbery, it only took authorities a couple of days to apprehend Lee, who then stayed in state custody until his federal case warranted an arrest last month.
Currently detained without bond, Lee is expected in court for arraignment on July 7, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes. United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta, assisted by both the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Police Department, made the announcement. Prosecuting the case is Assistant U.S. Attorney Asheeka Desai. But remember, while an indictment brings charges, it's not a declaration of guilt — Lee is presumed innocent and justice awaits its course at trial, where his guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt.
