Federal prosecutors announced charges against several people accused of assaulting postal workers and stealing mail in the San Francisco Bay Area.
U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey said at a press conference Tuesday that the defendants stole postal keys, broke into delivery vehicles and committed other crimes that disrupted mail service.
He said they now face severe penalties under federal law.
U.S. Postal Inspector Rafael Nuñez said there is now a $150,000 reward for information leading to more arrests and convictions nationwide. He warned potential copycats that authorities will not stop pursuing people who target postal workers.
The reward increase is triple the previous cap on rewards for new information leading to arrests of people suspected of robbing or assaulting mail carriers, according to U.S Postal Inspection Service spokesperson Matthew Norfleet.
Last month, authorities offered $50,000 for information about a man who allegedly robbed a San Francisco postal worker in the city's Sunset District in early September.
According to court documents, charges were filed against:
- Anthony Medina, 42, of American Canyon, who was allegedly found with seven stolen mail keys. Officers found credit cards in other people's names when they arrested him. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each of multiple charges.
- Robert Nicholson Bell Jr., 19, of Antioch, who allegedly participated in armed robberies of letter carriers. Authorities say he had mail keys allegedly used to steal mail from collection boxes. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
- Derek Hopson, 33, of Oakland, who allegedly stole mail and postal keys in two separate incidents. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Several other cases were also announced.
Ramsey said the penalties for interfering with mail delivery can be severe, including years in prison.