Oakland man charged in gunpoint postal robberies

OAKLAND >> A man arrested in connection with half a dozen armed robberies and attempted armed robberies of U. S. Postal Service carriers earlier this year has been charged, a U. S. Justice Department spokesman said Monday.

According to a complaint, a 31-year- old Oakland man carried out at least six robberies and attempted robberies of postal carriers in East Oakland neighborhoods from Aug. 11 to Sept. 25.

In most of the robberies, including one that happened around 3 p.m. on Sept. 19 near 66th and Avenal avenues, the man worked with other unnamed conspirators to follow carriers while on their rounds before confronting them and taking trays of mail meant for residents.

In the September robbery, the man fled in a silver Infiniti sedan with a missing front license plate after holding a carrier at gunpoint. Soon after, footage from an automated teller machine’s surveillance camera showed the man using an unemployment benefit debit card mailed to a resident to withdraw $1,000 in cash.

The man used the card the following day to purchase a Cadillac sport utility vehicle, which he then used in an attempted robbery later. A search of the man’s phone by law enforcement officials found evidence that the man had tried to activate another debit card sent to a different resident.

The man, who was held at Santa Rita Jail, appeared in federal court Monday and was due to appear again Tuesday for a detention status hearing.

If convicted, the man may face a ma ximum 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or about twice the amount his victims lost, as well as restitution.