From the U.S. Attorney:
Federal Jury Convicts Getaway Driver in Four Robberies of Suburban Chicago Financial Institutions
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted the getaway driver in the robberies of three banks and a credit union in the Chicago suburbs.
TARANDLE LEE served as the driver while his friend, CHARLES LAWLER, entered the financial institutions and presented demand notes. Together the pair robbed three banks and a credit union, while Lawler also robbed an additional bank by himself.
The robberies were 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.
After a week-long trial in federal court in Chicago, the jury on Wednesday convicted Lee, 45, of Bolingbrook, Ill., on all four robbery counts against him.
Lawler, 54, of Villa Park, Ill., pleaded guilty prior to trial to the first three robberies and stipulated to his role in the final two.
Lee faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the four robberies he committed, while Lawler faces up to 20 years for each of the three robberies to which he pleaded guilty. U.S.
District Judge Robert W. Gettleman has not yet set Lee’s sentencing date. Lawler is set to be sentenced on March 11, 2025.
The convictions were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago
Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Downers Grove, Ill. Police Department, Bellwood, Ill. Police Department, Woodridge, Ill. Police Department, and Villa Park, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandro G. Ortega and Jonathan L. Shih.
