Three men have pleaded guilty to stealing a U.S. Postal Service arrow key, as announced by U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton.
Jlynn Laneil Dunn, 21, Daylin Darden, 24, and D Colby Vashion Lewis, 23, were charged via criminal complaint in February and indicted the following month. Each pleaded guilty to robbery of mail matter, money, or other property of the United States, entering their pleas on May 8.
According to plea papers, the defendants admitted they robbed a letter carrier at gunpoint on Oct. 2, 2023.
The carrier, identified as T.W. in court documents, reported to police that the robbers demanded a U.S. Postal Service master key used by letter carriers to gather mail deposited in blue collection boxes. Surveillance video captured the robbery and the defendants’ subsequent flight.
During a search of an address associated with one of the defendants, law enforcement recovered guns, drugs, mail, checks, and a DVR system. DVR footage showed all three robbers gathered at the residence prior to the robbery on Oct. 2. Mr. Darden was seen exiting the residence with a gun matching the one used during the robbery, and Mr. Dunn was seen holding a small item attached to a long gold chain — the same type of chain used to carry USPS arrow keys.
A subsequent search of Mr. Dunn’s Instagram account revealed a direct message he sent 10 to 12 minutes before the robbery that read, “I’m tryna go get us a key rn so I can get these real scam Money.”
The defendants now face up to 10 years in federal prison; sentencing is set for Sept. 3.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Fort Worth and Arlington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Beck is prosecuting the case.
