McHenry Co. ‘most wanted’ fugitive arrested

A Crystal Lake man wanted in connection with a Chicago bank robbery and listed as one of McHenry County Sheriff Office’s top 10 fugitives was arrested this week in McHenry.

John L. Gilbert, 35, of 1300 block of Dola Rosa Vista, was wanted in the county on two counts of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft.

Gilbert was arrested during a traffic stop about 3:30 p.m. Thursday by sheriff’s deputies and members of the U.S. Marshal’s Regional Task Force. The arrest followed an investigation by the law enforcement agencies that determined he was in the McHenry area.

McHenry and Crystal Lake police issued arrest warrants for Gilbert in connection with the theft of high-end bicycles in the towns on May 31 and June 11. During the traffic stop, police found and seized other items of evidence, and further charges against Gilbert in relation to other burglaries in the McHenry County area may be pending, officials said.

According to court records, Gilbert faces a federal bank robbery charge stemming from the May 29 holdup of the Charter One Bank at 71 S. Wacker Drive. Records say a man later identified as Gilbert walked into the bank that afternoon, handed a teller a note demanding cash and received $1,920 before fleeing.

Court documents say a law enforcement officer recognized Gilbert after watching bank security video of the robbery, and the identification later was confirmed by the teller through a photo lineup.

Gilbert was taken to the FBI Chicago office after his arrest, police said. He is scheduled to appear in federal court Tuesday morning.