Charges Filed in $250,000 Take-Over Robbery of Mundelein Credit Union

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was joined today by Raymond J. Rose, Chief of the Mundelein, Illinois Police Department (MPD) in announcing the filing of criminal charges in connection with yesterday’s armed take-over robbery of the Consumer’s Cooperative Credit Union, located at 1210 South Lake Street in Mundelein.

JAIME AGUIRRE, age 22, of 1120 Olga in Mundelein, was charged in a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of Bank Robbery, which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, AGUIRRE entered the credit union just after 9:00 a.m., brandishing a handgun and announcing a robbery. He then ordered two credit union employees to fill with cash a black plastic garbage bag that he brought with him. The two employees, fearing for their safety, placed $266,786.30 in currency into the bag, which they obtained from numerous teller drawers and the credit union’s vault area. AGUIRRE then fled the area on foot, carrying the plastic bag filled with cash. No injuries were reported during the robbery and no customers were inside the credit union during the incident.

While the robbery was taking place, a passerby noticed the suspicious activity inside the credit union and called police. MPD Officers, responding to the call, saw AGUIRRE attempting to flee through the parking lot, carrying the garbage bag that was stuffed with cash. When approached by an officer, AGUIRRE allegedly pointed his weapon at the officer, who took cover and called for back-up. AGUIRE was located a short distance away, hiding in the backyard of a nearby residence. He was taken into custody, without further incident, and evidence linking AGUIRRE to the robbery was recovered at the scene.

In announcing the filing of the charges in this case, Mr. Grant commended the Mundelein Police Department for their prompt and professional response to this service call. Said Mr. Grant “The bravery displayed by the arresting officers in confronting and apprehending an armed robbery suspect is quite extraordinary. The residents of Mundelein should be proud of the officers who serve and protect their community.”

AGUIRRE appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole in Chicago, earlier today, at which time he was formally charged. AGUIRRE was ordered held without bond, pending his next scheduled court appearance, which is scheduled for Monday, September 23rd at 11:30 a.m. If convicted of the charges filed against him, AGUIRRE faces a possible sentence of up to twenty (20) years' incarceration.

This case was investigated jointly by the Chicago FBI and the Mundelein Police Department.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Additional copies of the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.