Theft is a serious allegation no matter the situation, but penalties exacerbate when a case involves a federal employee. Not only does a criminal charge carry potential state punishments, but the federal government steps in with its resources as well.
As reported by Associated Press, two men received years of prison time after a federal jury found them guilty of armed robbery allegations.
Postal service key theft
A federal jury faced a case of three men involved in a heist to steal postal keys. One man held a mailwoman at gunpoint, pushed her to the ground and then fled in a getaway car to sell the keys to a contact.
Federal investigators resecured the keys and the money exchanged in the sale. Both men pled guilty in January to armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys.
Federal convictions over postal service robbery
The man who held the woman at gunpoint faced three different sentencing parameters:
- Armed robbery with a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison
- Theft of postal keys with a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison
- Brandishing a firearm, which comes with a minimum mandatory of seven years in prison
As per the report, his actual sentencing resulted in nine years and two months of prison time.
People facing allegations like brandishing a firearm or robbery in Florida face a lifelong threat to their futures. It is important for anyone confronted with allegations of federal crimes to learn more about the case and what may create a compelling defense.
