Crime & Safety

Sheriff: Top Fugitive Arrested

John L. Gilbert, 35, was wanted on theft charges and for alleged bank robberies in Chicago.

A Crystal Lake man listed on the county’s Top Ten Fugitive list was arrested on Thursday by McHenry County Sheriff’s investigators. 

John L. Gilbert, 35, of the 1300 block of Dola Rosa Vista, was wanted by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office on three arrest warrants: two felony thefts and one misdemeanor theft. 

He also was wanted by the FBI for several bank robberies in Chicago, according to a news release issued by Sheriff Keith Nygren. 

On May 31, the McHenry Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Gilbert regarding the alleged theft of a high-end bicycle. Just 11 days later, the Crystal Lake Police Department obtained a second arrest warrant for Gilbert in connection with another alleged theft of a high-end bicycle, Nygren said in the release.
 
In the meantime, the FBI Chicago office obtained arrest warrants for Gilbert for bank robberies. 

The McHenry and Crystal Lake police departments, along with the sheriff’s office, made numerous attempts to locate and capture Gilbert. Unable to find him, Gilbert’s name was added Tuesday to the county’s Most Wanted/ Top Ten Fugitive list and posted on the sheriff’s office webpage, Nygren said. 

The following day, the sheriff’s Office Apprehension Unit and the U.S. Marshal’s Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force received a tip Gilbert was possibly living in the McHenry area.

On Thursday, at about 3:30 p.m., sheriff’s investigators and U.S. Marshals found Gilbert  and took him into custody following a traffic stop in McHenry. 

During the apprehension, more items of evidence were located and seized., Nygren said. As a result, Gilbert is being investigated for other burglaries in the McHenry County area and additional charges for burglary are pending, according to the release. 

Gilbert was eventually transported to the FBI office in Chicago. His bond was set at $51,150, and he was awaiting a court date to be set by a judge, Nygren said. 


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