The men responsible for eight robberies of U.S. Postal Service letter carriers were sentenced today to a combined total of 21 years in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton.
18-year-olds Jerrad Coleman and Louis Dixon were charged in April, with Dixon pleading guilty in June to robbery of property of the United States and conspiracy to rob and unlawfully possess property of the United States. Coleman followed with a guilty plea to the same charges in July.
In a sentencing hearing held by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, Coleman was sentenced to a total of 151 months (12 ½ years) in federal prison, receiving 60 months on count one and 91 months on count two, to be served consecutively. Dixon was sentenced to 108 months (9 years), with his sentences for both counts running concurrently, comprising 60 months on count one and 108 months on count two.
The court emphasized the significance of the U.S. Postal Service, with Judge Pittman characterizing the duo's crimes as a "heinous offense." U.S. Attorney Simonton stated, “Violence against letter carriers not only puts federal workers in fear for their lives, but also undermines the functioning of the U.S. postal system.” She pledged continued efforts to aggressively prosecute individuals who endanger postal workers and the integrity of the service.
According to court documents, Coleman and Dixon targeted letter carriers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area, specifically seeking to steal an Arrow Key—a master key that allows postal workers to access mail deposited in blue collection boxes. These keys, which are illegal to possess without authorization, enable thieves to gain illicit entry to mailboxes, allowing them to steal sensitive information such as personal checks, credit cards, and bank account details.
Over a span of approximately four months, the pair conspired to carry out multiple robberies, specifically occurring on January 17 and 18 in Fort Worth, January 25 and 29 in Dallas, March 15 in Fort Worth, March 28 in Arlington, April 4 in Frisco, and April 17 in Fort Worth. During these incidents, the men often brandished firearms, threatening the postal workers to gain compliance and flee with the stolen items.
After the robberies, the duo would escape in getaway vehicles, subsequently unlawfully using, selling, or disposing of the stolen Arrow Keys. The investigation was led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from local police departments in Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Frisco. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas, who emphasized the ongoing commitment to protecting postal workers from violent crimes.
