CHICAGO (WGN) A man accused of kidnapping a postal worker in Chicago nearly three years ago pleaded guilty on Monday, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced.

A Cook County Criminal Court judge sentenced Cesar Ramirez, 47, of Chicago, to 15 years behind bars.

Ramirez, who was 44 at the time of the October 2022 incident, faced multiple felony charges, including aggravated kidnapping and attempted criminal sexual assault.

It was on Oct. 22, 2022, that postal inspectors responded to a report of an assault and kidnapping in progress of a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier. Authorities said the female postal worker entered her mail truck parked in the 2800 block of S. Pulaski Road around 9:50 a.m., after leaving a convenience store, when she found Ramirez hiding inside.

Postal inspectors stated that Ramirez had entered the vehicle while the postal worker was inside the convenience store.

Upon her entry, Ramirez allegedly told the female postal worker, “Drive or I will kill you.”

According to police, Ramirez attempted to sexually assault the mail carrier. She escaped unharmed.

Ramirez then stole the marked USPS vehicle. Amid a police pursuit, Ramirez crashed the car in a South Side alleyway and fled on foot.

Authorities arrested Ramirez four days later.

Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity concerning postal workers may file a report at or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s 24/7 hotline at (877) 876-2455.