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18-year-old sentenced for robbing USPS workers in DFW
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18-year-old sentenced for robbing USPS workers in DFW

Two North Texas men received federal prison sentences for a series of robberies against postal workers.

Jerrad Coleman, 18, and Louis Dixon, 18, were arrested in April after police said they scoured the Dallas-Fort Worth area looking for mail carriers to rob in hopes of stealing an arrow key.

Master keys are used to open blue collection boxes. Thieves steal them to more easily access mailed checks, credit cards, bank statements and other personal information.

postal mailbox

FILE – A USPS logo is seen on a mailbox. (John Smith/VIEWpress via Getty Images)

Over a span of about four months, prosecutors said Coleman and Dixon committed eight robberies involving mail carriers in Fort Worth, Dallas Arlington and Frisco.

They had at least one arrow key when they were arrested.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, Coleman and Dixon pleaded guilty to theft of U.S. property and conspiracy to steal and unlawfully possess U.S. property.

They were sentenced Tuesday for what the judge called a “heinous crime.”

“Violence against mail carriers not only leaves federal workers fearing for their lives, it also undermines the functioning of the U.S. postal system,” Simonton said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute individuals who endanger our postal colleagues and the system as a whole.”

“(This) sentence serves as a warning to those who wish to commit violent acts against employees of the United States Postal Service,” added Kai Pickens, inspector in charge of the Fort Worth Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “U.S. Postal Service employees deliver throughout the United States and deserve to work in their communities free of harm.”

Coleman received a 12.5-year federal prison sentence, while Dixon was sentenced to 9 years.