A man has been charged in federal court for robbing a postal worker at gunpoint in Harvey, a suburb of Chicago, last week. Another man is facing charges for shooting at investigators near the scene shortly after the robbery.
Eighteen-year-old Ahmel Holmes, from Kankakee, Illinois, is accused of robbing the postal carrier on the morning of January 8, 2025. According to court documents, the postal worker was delivering mail along East 158th Street near Union Avenue in Harvey when Holmes approached her with a gun. The weapon, described as having a large drum magazine, made the situation even more intimidating. Holmes allegedly demanded her belongings and forced her to give him access to the postal vehicle. From the vehicle, he reportedly took a USPS tub filled with mail.
Not long after the robbery, two Postal Inspectors were canvassing the area as part of their investigation. While searching for clues, they spotted three individuals near an alley. When the inspectors approached them, one of the men, identified as 19-year-old Jesus Santillan from Harvey, Illinois, allegedly pulled out a gun and fired shots at them. Thankfully, neither inspector was injured, and they chose not to return fire. Instead, they pursued Santillan into a nearby house and arrested him. Inside the same residence, they also found Holmes and took him into custody.
Holmes is now facing a serious charge of armed robbery of a postal worker, which could lead to a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison. Meanwhile, Santillan has been charged with using a dangerous weapon to assault postal inspectors and interfere with their work. This charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.
A court hearing to decide whether Holmes should remain in custody is scheduled for January 14, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffery T. Gilbert. Santillan, however, has decided to waive his right to a detention hearing for now and will remain in federal custody.
The case has been handled by several law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Harvey Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual and Inspector-in-Charge Ruth Mendonça of the Chicago Division have announced the charges, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Maione representing the government.
As a reminder, these charges are allegations, and both Holmes and Santillan are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. It’s up to the government to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt during a fair trial.
