A federal grand jury has charged Kyler Reese, 21, and Chaun Allen, 22, with assaulting and robbing a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in Chicago. The indictment, revealed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, claims the incident took place on November 16, 2022. According to the indictment, the pair arrived at the scene using a stolen vehicle acquired the previous day. Reese allegedly exited the vehicle, threatened the mail carrier with a firearm, and forced the carrier to surrender USPS keys and a mail bag. The firearm, described as having a "switch" device, was capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. Both individuals then escaped in the stolen vehicle.
Reese and Allen, both residents of Chicago, face charges of conspiracy, robbery of a mail carrier, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. These charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, with the possibility of life imprisonment.
Authorities recently arrested Reese in Arizona, with a detention hearing scheduled for April 7, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Allen was arrested earlier in Chicago and is to remain in federal custody pending trial.
The announcement of the indictment was made by Morris Pasqual, Acting 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 Chicago Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona provided essential assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sushma Raju is representing the government.
“U.S. Postal Service employees delivering mail to the American people must be allowed to do so safely and securely,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “Individuals who use violence against postal carriers to gain access to the public's mail must be held accountable.”
Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça commented, “This indictment is another example of the roles Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners play in protecting Postal Service employees and customers. 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.”
It is important to note that an indictment does not imply guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.