Two Hampton Roads men sentenced for armed robbery of USPS mail carrier

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Two Virginia men were sentenced to four years in prison for their roles in the armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier.

According to court documents, on May 9, 2023, O'Sirus Landres Charles Ford, 21, of Chesapeake, Virginia, robbed a Hampton mail carrier at gunpoint for his "arrow" key, the master key used to access blue collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, and apartment mailbox panels, and recruited Jayden Stukes, 21, of Suffolk, Virginia, to assist him in the robbery. Ford specifically wanted to steal a key in the Newport News/Hampton area and requested that Stukes drive him "across the water." Stukes agreed and informed Ford he would be with Da'Twan Watson, 24, of Chesapeake, and that Watson was "a lock."

When Ford, Stukes, and Watson met at the rental car that Ford had used the previous day for another armed robbery - that time, of a mail carrier in Norfolk - they were unable to gain entry to the vehicle, so Stukes arranged for another of his friends to drive the group. Ford, Stukes, and Watson were all armed with handguns and had masks to cover their faces. After they crossed Hampton Roads, Ford diverted the car from the original destination, the downtown Newport News Post Office, and instead directed the vehicle around a light industrial-commercial area of Hampton. Ford and Watson exited the vehicle to continue hunting down the mailman on foot, and Stukes remained in the car with his friend and communicated with Ford using social media to help him find the USPS target (the victim mail carrier).

Watson and Ford encountered the mail carrier on Galax Street in Hampton. Only Ford was armed, but both he and Watson were fully masked as Watson approached from the side. Ford approached the carrier from Galax Street, brandished his firearm, and said, "Give me your keys or I'm gonna shoot you." He then repeated his demand and began counting down from five. The victim gave Ford his USPS arrow key. Ford and Watson then fled, eventually meeting with Stukes and the driver in an apartment complex nearby before she drove the group back across the water.

Watson and Stukes pleaded guilty to interfering with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting. Stukes was sentenced yesterday; Watson was sentenced today.

On Dec. 21, 2023, Ford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence. Ford is currently scheduled to be sentenced May 2.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ajay Lall, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Jimmie Wideman, Chief of Hampton Police; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after Watson was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Podlesni and Mack Coleman prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-51.