Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men in Connection With Robberies of Suburban Chicago Financial Institutions

CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment against two men for allegedly robbing several banks and a credit union in the Chicago suburbs.

CHARLES LAWLER and TARANDLE LEE committed the robberies in 2021 and 2022, according to a superseding indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  The charges allege that the pair together robbed four financial institutions and that Lawler robbed another bank by himself.  The indictment seeks forfeiture of $29,944 from the defendants.

The indictment identifies the robberies as follows:

• Sept. 22, 2021: Lawler robbed BMO Harris Bank in Naperville, Ill.
• Sept. 28, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Old Second Bank in Lisle, Ill.
• Oct. 6, 2021: Lawler and Lee robbed Bank Financial in Westmont, Ill.
• Jan. 3, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed BMO Harris Bank in Woodridge, Ill.
• April 14, 2022: Lawler and Lee robbed DuPage Credit Union in Downers Grove, Ill.

Lawler, 53, of Villa Park, Ill., and Lee, 44, of Bolingbrook, Ill., are currently detained in law enforcement custody.  Arraignments are set for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman.

The superseding indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.  Substantial assistance was provided by the Naperville, Ill. Police Department, Lisle, Ill. Police Department, Westmont, Ill. Police Department, Woodridge, Ill. Police Department, Downers Grove, Ill. Police Department, Skokie, Ill. Police Department, and Evanston, Ill. Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.