TAMPA, Fla. – Two Tampa men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the armed robbery of a postal mail carrier.
Omar Rochester Miller, Jr., 23, Tampa, was sentenced to 9 years and two months in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier, theft of postal keys, and brandishing a firearm during the commission of the robbery. A federal jury found Miller guilty on January 25, 2023.
Christopher Diaz, aka “Chico,” 27, Tampa, was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for the armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys. Diaz had pleaded guilty on January 10, 2023.
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According to evidence presented at trial, Miller robbed a letter carrier at gunpoint while she was delivering mail at an apartment complex.
Miller approached the letter carrier from behind, pointed a firearm at her, threatened to shoot her, and demanded her postal keys. After Miller stole the postal keys, he pushed the mail carrier to the ground and ran to a waiting getaway car, driven by Edwin Betancourt Vega.
This robbery was organized through phone calls and text messages between Betancourt Vega and Diaz, to coordinate the robbery and sale of the postal keys in exchange for cash.
Law enforcement recovered the postal keys, as well as proceeds from the sale of the key from both Miller and Betancourt Vega, and also recovered the firearm used in the robbery, which contained Miller’s DNA.
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Betancourt Vega was also charged for his role in the robbery as a getaway driver. He pleaded guilty to armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys. On February 3, 2023, Betancourt Vega was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.
“Employee safety is a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Juan Vargas, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division. “These convictions and sentences demonstrate the commitment of the Inspection Service, as well as our partners at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to bring justice to anyone who would endanger the public servants of the Postal Service.”
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