A Chicago man accused of robbing a U.S. postal carrier at gunpoint as part of a plot to steal and sell checks in DuPage County has been released until his next court date, according to the state’s attorney.
On Friday, the court refused the state’s plea to hold Antwan Kelsor, who is 22 years old.
Kelsor appeared in court on several charges Friday morning, including two counts of armed robbery, a Class X felony, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The court accuses Kelsor and his co-defendant, Maurice Deloach, 23, of operating a financial fraud scheme through the United States Postal Service. They face the following extra charges:
- Four counts of identity theft (two Class 2 and two Class 3 felonies)
- One count of financial institution fraud involving $100,000 to $500,000 (Class 1 felony)
- Three counts of conspiracy to defraud a financial institution of $100,000 to $500,000 (Class 2 felonies)
- One count of financial institution fraud involving $10,000 to $100,000 (Class 2 felony)
The backstory: At 1:21 p.m. on May 9, 2022, Hinsdale police responded to an armed robbery at Hinsdale Avenue and Stough Street.
A mail carrier was emptying a USPS collection box when somebody approached, brandished a firearm, and demanded the key for boxes in Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Burr Ridge, and parts of Willowbrook, according to prosecutors.
The carrier complied. Authorities claim that the suspect then fled the scene in a black Nissan, which they suspect Kelsor was driving.
In the following weeks, authorities recorded mail thefts from collection boxes in Hinsdale and Oak Brook. Investigators eventually identified Kelsor and Deloach as suspects.
According to the state’s attorney, on June 12, 2002, Kelsor and Deloach reportedly drove the identical Nissan to various USPS collection boxes in Hinsdale and Oak Brook and stole mail.
That night, at about 10 p.m., officers discovered the Nissan at a petrol station in Oakbrook Terrace and arrested both males.
A search of the car revealed the stolen collection box key as well as checks from residents and businesses in over a dozen areas, including Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Westchester, Western Springs, Barrington, Addison, Palos Hills, Oak Lawn, Chicago, and Forest View.
According to authorities, Kelsor and Deloach attempted to sell the stolen checks. The retrieved checks have a total value of $508,714.88.
What they’re saying: “The arrest of the defendants in this case is a testament to the cooperation exhibited by both federal and local agencies and I sincerely thank the Hinsdale Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their outstanding efforts and commitment to seeking justice for the victims and for the mail carrier who was allegedly robbed at gunpoint,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said.
He continued, “Complex investigations like this aren’t possible without interagency cooperation. These arrests represent our commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity and trust in the U.S. Mail. We all rely on the USPS to deliver our mail from bills to personal correspondence. The arrest and charging of the defendants in this case is vital to maintaining the public’s trust that when you send a letter or pay a bill through the USPS, it will safely arrive at its intended destination. The USPS, along with the law enforcement community, remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. Mail. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Ken Tatarelis and Sean Kinsella for their work in piecing together this complex case and securing charges against Mr. Kelsor and Mr. Deloach.”
Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King also issued a statement.
“Postal employees deserve to be safe while working their routes. This crime occurred midday when a local Hinsdale based carrier working his route was accosted and robbed at gunpoint. The Hinsdale Police Department takes violent crimes that occur in the community very seriously. We are willing to expend whatever resources it takes to bring crimes of this nature to justice. We thank our law enforcement partners and the excellent cooperation we receive from the DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin’s office in bringing this case to prosecution.”
What’s next: Deloach appeared in court on May 12th and was discharged. His next court date is set for June 5. Kelsor is also expected to appear in court on the same day.
