An Evanston man has been handed down federal charges almost two years after he was charged with robbing and assaulting two U.S. postal carries at gunpoint, authorities said.
A federal grand jury indicted Everett G. Pullett, 33, of Evanston for allegedly assaulting and robbing two postal carriers in the north suburb over two days in 2022, according to an indictment unsealed Jan. 29 in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Pullett allegedly assaulted and robbed a postal carrier on Sept. 26, 2022, and another one on Sept. 27, 2022, the indictment says.
“On or about Sept. 26, 2022, at Evanston, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Everett G. Pullett, defendant herein, did assault Individual A, a person having lawful charge, custody, and control of property of the United States, with intent to rob, steal and purloin such property of the United States, and robbed Individual A of property of the United States,” the federal indictment says.
It also says that Pullett robbed and assaulted a postal carrier the following day and “jeopardized the life of Individual B by using a dangerous weapon, namely, a firearm.” The indictment also states that on Sept. 28, 2022, Pullett unlawfully possessed a key suited to a lock “adopted by the Postal Service and in use on an authorized receptacle for the deposit or delivery of mail matter, and did so with the intent unlawfully and improperly to use the same.”
Armed robbery of a U.S. postal employee is a violation of federal law punishable by up to 25 years in prison, authorities said.
Shortly after the 2022 robberies Pullett was arrested by Evanston police and charged with two counts of felony armed robbery and one count of felony unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, Evanston police said in a news release at the time.
The arrest came only a day after Pullet allegedly robbed the postal carrier on Sept. 26 of their arrow keys at gunpoint in the 2400 block of Nathaniel Avenue in Evanston then struck the carrier in the face before fleeing on foot, police said.
Officials explained arrow keys allow postal carriers access to secured vestibules and common areas of condo and apartment buildings.
On Sept. 26, 2022 Evanston police responded to the 1600 block of Monroe Street in Evanston on a call of a robbery, where a postal carrier told them he had just been robbed by two men.
The carrier told officers he was approached by two masked offenders and that one of the men physically controlled him while the second man displayed a handgun and removed the carrier’s arrow keys. The men then fled on foot leaving the postal carrier uninjured.
Police have yet to make any additional arrests in the case.
They said Evanston detectives, working with the, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, launched an investigation after the robberies and were able to identifying a vehicle in the crimes. On Sept. 28, 2022 investigators located and stopped the same vehicle in the 900 block of Ridge Avenue in Evanston, and investigators made contact with the driver, Pullett, who police said matched the description of the robbery offender. Pullett also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, according to officials.
Evanston investigators executed a search warrant at his residence after the 2022 arrest and found a Glock 36 handgun, proceeds from the robberies and clothing worn during the robberies, said police.
“U. S. Postal Service employees delivering mail to the American people must be allowed to do so safely and securely,” said Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “Individuals who use violence against postal carriers to gain access to the public’s mail must be held accountable.”
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
