A man who was on parole for armed robbery when he tried to carjack a priest outside Holy Name Cathedral, sparking a struggle inside the priest’s SUV in front of the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, has been sentenced to four years in prison. Judge Michael Hood handed down the sentence to Raleigh Ford, 18, on Monday.
Ford was on parole for an armed robbery conviction when he targeted the priest on May 21, 2025, outside the landmark church at 730 North Wabash Avenue. According to prosecutors, the priest had driven to the cathedral to check the mail and have lunch with a group of nuns. He parked his 2015 Toyota RAV4 in front of the church, leaving it unlocked with the keys in the ignition.
When he returned, the priest allegedly found Ford examining the SUV before climbing into the driver’s seat. The priest entered through the passenger door, leading to a brief struggle inside the vehicle. Prosecutors said Ford punched the priest and tried to force him from the SUV. But the priest managed to pull the keys from the ignition, preventing Ford from driving away. Ford then ran from the scene…