Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Carjacking and Robbing Credit Unions at UIC
A federal grand jury has indicted Maurice Lee, 32, for allegedly carjacking two vehicles in May 2024 and using them to rob two credit unions at the University of Illinois Chicago. The U.S. Attorneyâs Office in Chicago announced the charges, which include two counts of carjacking, two counts of robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to federal officials, on May 10, 2024, Lee hijacked a Toyota Prius and used it to rob Credit Union 1 inside the UIC Student Center. Armed with a firearm, Lee stole approximately $10,000 from the credit union before fleeing the scene.
One week later, on May 17, Lee allegedly carjacked a Toyota Highlander and used it to rob another Credit Union 1 location at UICâs Medical Sciences Building. UIC police responded to a silent alarm at the credit union and employees reported that Lee brandished a firearm, demanded cash, and escaped with about $12,500 in the stolen Highlander.
Lee now faces charges of two counts of carjacking, two counts of robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. The firearm charges carry a mandatory minimum of seven years each, while the robbery charges could result in up to 20 years of imprisonment and the carjacking charges could lead to up to 15 years of imprisonment, according to the U.S. Attorneyâs Office.
Following his arrest two days after the second robbery, Lee spent a year in state custody awaiting trial for unrelated charges. He recently pleaded guilty in a gun case and received a sentence equal to time served. Lee was released from Stateville Correctional Center last Wednesday and was taken into federal custody on the same day.
