Aurora man charged with impersonating a U.S. Marshal

A 36-year-old Aurora man is charged with impersonating a U.S. Marshal while demanding a gas station clerk activate the pumps for him earlier this month.

Police are looking for anyone else who might have been victimized by Jesus E. Avilas, of the 300 block of East New York Street, to come forward. He was picked up Thursday. Authorities say he tried to pass himself off as a U.S. Marshal Oct. 3 at a gas station on the 1000 block of North Lake Street in Aurora.

He is accused of entering the gas station just after 7 a.m. and asking the clerk to activate one of the pumps. The clerk hesitated because the pumps were "prepay only," and authorities say Avilas then showed a badge from his wallet and identified him as a U.S. Marshal, adding that his credit card was in his car.

Authorities said the clerk activated the pump, and Avilas put about $37 worth of gas into his vehicle and then drove off westbound on Northpark Avenue. As he was driving away, the clerk wrote down the license plate and called police.

An Aurora Police investigator assigned to the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force spotted a vehicle parked outside of the apartment building where Avilas lived that matched the one used in the commission of the alleged theft. He was arrested when he went to get into the vehicle.

While searching Avilas' residence, authorities said they found a badge similar to the one used in the Oct. 3 theft, along with several other pieces of police-related paraphernalia and a replica handgun. Authorities said they believe Avilas might have attempted similar ruses and are asking anyone with information to call Aurora Police Investigations at (630) 256-5500.

Avilas was being held at the Kane County jail on $7,000 bail.

He is next due in court Nov. 4 and could face up to three years in prison if convicted. He also is charged with misdemeanor theft for the gas, court records show.