Up to $150,000 rewards offered; may be tied to mail carrier thefts in Antioch, Contra Costa County

By Allen D. Payton

Palo Alto Police Lt. Con Maloney issued the following information on May 14, 2024, announcing the arrests of two suspects for the robberies of two mail carriers:

Police arrested two suspects this weekend after they committed robberies of United States Postal Service mail carriers in Belmont and Palo Alto, and then led officers on a vehicle pursuit in a stolen car before crashing into a tree and fleeing on foot. Police recovered two airsoft pistols and the stolen property.

The incident began around 2:12 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, when our 24-hour dispatch center put out an alert on the police radio about a strong-arm robbery of a mail carrier that had occurred around 1:30 p.m. in Belmont. The Belmont Police Department described the two suspects and the vehicle they were driving (a black 2013 Infiniti G37 two-door, bearing a stolen license plate that belonged on a Ford).

At about 2:18 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call from a witness reporting they had just seen two males loitering in the 800 block of Ilima Court. When the males spotted the witness, they quickly walked away and entered a black Infiniti sedan parked on Laguna Avenue. The witness continued to watch them and saw them exit the Infiniti and walk back towards Ilima Court. The witness’ description of the males and their car closely matched the alert from Belmont. Officers began responding to the area to investigate.

A few minutes later, other witnesses called police to report that a mail carrier had just been robbed at gunpoint in the 800 block of Ilima Court by two suspects matching the earlier description.

Responding officers located the suspect vehicle driving northbound on El Camino Real from Matadero Avenue. When officers attempted to make a stop, the suspect vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, leading police on a vehicle pursuit that turned westbound onto Hansen Way. The suspect vehicle lost control and crashed into a tree in a private parking lot in the 3100 block of Hansen Way, and both suspects inside then fled on foot. Officers chased the suspects, arresting them both without incident nearby a short time later.

Both suspects sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision. Personnel from the Palo Alto Fire Department treated and released them at the scene. Neither suspect, nor any officers, were injured during the arrests.

The suspect vehicle sustained major damage from the collision and had to be towed from the scene. It turns out the Infiniti itself had been reported stolen from Alameda on May 1, while the license plate on its rear had been reported stolen from Hayward on May 11.

Inside the vehicle, officers located two sets of stolen postal keys that were later confirmed to be the ones stolen from the two mail carrier victims (one from Belmont, one from Palo Alto). Officers also located two realistic-looking replica handguns; one inside the vehicle, and the other on the ground outside the vehicle.

The Palo Alto robbery investigation revealed that the victim, a mail carrier in his sixties, had been approached by both suspects. One suspect pointed a gun at his head while demanding his postal keys. Both suspects grabbed the victim and forcibly took the keys from him. The victim was not physically injured.

The robbery in Belmont occurred around 1:30 p.m. on May 11 in the 700 block of Old County Road. In that case, the mail carrier was a woman in her forties who received minor physical injuries but declined medical treatment at the scene. No weapon was used.

Police booked 19-year-old Trevionne Levar Williams of Sacramento into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse (due to the age of the Palo Alto victim) and committing a felony while out on bail for another felony (all of which are felonies), and also for misdemeanor resisting arrest (for running from the police after the collision). Williams is currently out on bail in Sacramento County for multiple firearms-related violations. Police arrested the second suspect for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, and vehicle theft (all of which are felonies), and also for misdemeanor evading police (for leading them on the pursuit); as he is a 17-year-old male, police transported him to the Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall. In accordance with our standard release of information procedures, no additional information on that suspect is available since he is under the age of 18. The juvenile was driving the stolen vehicle at the time of the collision.

Palo Alto detectives are working in close collaboration with detectives from the Belmont Police Department, as well as investigators from the United States Postal Inspection Service. Palo Alto detectives are also actively investigating to see if these suspects may also be responsible for a strong-arm robbery of a mail carrier that occurred in Palo Alto in December 2023. For details on that incident, see the news release we distributed at the time. That case is unsolved and remains open.

Robberies of mail carriers for postal keys, which are used to access locked Postal Service mailboxes, are becoming increasingly more common (though this is only the second such case in recent memory here in Palo Alto). Thieves then use the keys to assist them in committing mail theft, which in turn facilitates identity theft, fraud and other crimes.

Unauthorized possession of a postal key is a federal crime, a conviction which can land someone in prison for up to ten years. The United States Postal Inspection Service encourages anyone who knows the location of any stolen postal keys or who has information about any robberies of mail carriers to contact their 24-hour hotline at (877) 876-2455. They offer a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any suspects.

According to Postal Inspector Matthew Norfleet of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Oakland Team, Palo Alto Police and postal inspectors are investigating another robbery of postal keys from a mail carrier in that city. We are asking residents to report any financial crimes related to theft of U.S. Mail as it may be related to the robbery and assault of postal workers. A reward up to $150,000 is available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who robbed or assaulted a postal worker.

According to localcrimenews.com, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 290-lb. Williams was also arrested in Sacramento on May 4, 2024, for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and for the manufacture, import and/or sale of a large-capacity magazine of bullets.

Strong-Arm Robbery of Mail Carrier

Then, on Friday, May 17, 2024, Palo Alto Police Lt. David Lee issued the following about the second incident:

Police are investigating a strong-arm robbery of a United States Postal Service mail carrier that occurred yesterday in the Midtown neighborhood. The two suspects are unknown and at large.

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, at about 11:57 a.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call from a Postal Service supervisor stating that one of their mail carriers had been robbed of his postal keys about ten minutes earlier in the parking lot of the Southwood Apartments at 2850 Middlefield Road.

The investigation revealed that the victim, a man in his sixties, had been delivering mail when two men approached him and demanded his postal keys. The victim complied and turned over the keys. The men then demanded his wallet and cell phone, and when the victim refused, a fistfight ensued between all three. The suspects knocked the victim to the ground, and then fled on foot towards the parking garage. A short time later, the victim saw a black vehicle drive out of the garage at a high rate of speed to head southbound on Middlefield Road. The victim called his supervisor to report the incident.

The victim described the suspects as Hispanic males in their twenties, both about 5 feet 8 inches tall with average builds and no facial hair. The victim said they were both wearing black hooded sweatshirts with the hoods up. He said that when the suspects approached him, both had one hand reaching into their waistbands. He never saw either of them with a weapon. The victim described the vehicle he saw driving away as an older model Nissan Altima four-door sedan, with paint that looked old.

The victim sustained minor injuries to his face, rib cage, and knee. He declined medical attention at the scene.

Detectives are working with investigators from the United States Postal Inspection Service to conduct follow-up investigation. Palo Alto detectives are also investigating to see if these suspects may also be responsible for a strong-arm robbery of a mail carrier that occurred in Palo Alto in December 2023. For details on that incident, see the news release we distributed at the time. That case is unsolved and remains open. Detectives do not know if there is any connection between yesterday’s case and the arrests made of two individuals over the weekend for mail carrier robberies.

Robberies of mail carriers for postal keys, which are used to access locked Postal Service mailboxes, are becoming increasingly more common. Thieves then use the keys to assist them in committing mail theft, which in turn facilitates identity theft, fraud, and other crimes. Please report any financial crimes connected to the U.S. Mail to postal inspectors, even if the loss was minimal or covered by another institution.

Unauthorized possession of a postal key is a federal crime, a conviction which can land someone in prison for up to ten years. The United States Postal Inspection Service encourages anyone who knows the location of any stolen postal keys or who has information about any robberies of mail carriers to contact their 24-hour hotline at (877) 876-2455. They offer a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any suspects.

In light of these robberies, police are asking that the public keep a watchful eye out, remain alert for suspicious behavior around mail carriers, Postal Service vehicles, and common mailboxes, and promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. This could include vehicles and/or individuals appearing to follow mail carriers.

Inspector Unsure if Connected to Robberies in Antioch, Contra Costa

Norfleet was asked if the juvenile suspect is from and if either are suspects in robberies of mail carriers in Antioch or Contra Costa County. He responded, “I am not aware of a specific connection to Contra Costa County in the Belmont or Palo Alto robberies. We are still looking at possible connections between these suspects and any of our open robbery investigations in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. We have seen several Bay Area robberies committed by suspects using cars stolen from the Sacramento area, so we know they are at least passing through Contra Costa, and it’s not unreasonable to suspect the same individuals may be responsible for robberies in Antioch (or Contra Costa). We continue to look for leads on mail thefts throughout Contra Costa County, particularly if they relate to robberies of postal workers.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

A jury in Martinez returned guilty verdicts on November 9th for a double murder that took place in Antioch in 2018. (See related articles here and here)

Dontay Javon Williams, a 40-year-old resident of Oakland, has been found guilty of the murders of Milan Ardoin, 28, and her mother, Valinda Scott, 55. At the time, Milan Ardoin was in a relationship with Williams but had communicated her intention to end the relationship over email exchanges. In the early morning hours of July 5, 2018, Williams traveled from Oakland to Antioch, where he fatally shot both Ardoin and Scott outside their residence before fleeing on foot.

While Antioch Police officers were investigating the shooting and canvassing the neighborhood to speak with witnesses, Williams’ wallet — a key piece of evidence – was found on a sidewalk near where the murders occurred.

Williams was convicted of two counts of murder and enhancements for intentionally discharging a handgun, lying in wait, and multiple murders. Moreover, Williams was convicted of possession of a firearm with a prior violent conviction for robbery in Oakland in 2005.

Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Tompkins, who prosecuted the case, said, “For the loved ones who lost two family members in one tragic morning, and who waited years for their day in court, this verdict is a chance to move forward in their long healing process.”

When Williams is sentenced, he faces life without the possibility of parole.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, his next court appearance is scheduled for January 19, 2024.

Case No. 05001922558 | The People of the State of California vs. Williams, Dontay Javon

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report

Participated in at least two armed robberies of letter carriers, one in Antioch and one in San Francisco

Enforcement actions are coupled with announcement of $150,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of additional suspects

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – Tuesday, October 10, 2023 – U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez announced today that multiple arrests have been made in cases involving the interference with delivery of the U.S. mail. The announcement was made at a press conference held this morning at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building.

The theft of postal keys, break-ins of postal vehicles, assaults on letter carriers, and various other criminal acts involving interference with delivery of the mail and the alleged illegal possession of personally identifying information were all discussed at the press conference. According to U.S. Attorney Ramsey, defendants in each case now are facing severe federal penalties that make clear their alleged crimes were not worth the consequences. (See surveillance video released by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service of the alleged suspects, here and here)

“In each of the cases I will discuss,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey, “the government alleges the defendants have violated federal criminal laws and, as a consequence, federal agents and local law enforcement has tracked them down . . .. The penalties for these crimes can be sobering.”

Inspector in Charge Nuñez reinforced the U.S. Attorney’s remarks and announced that the reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of any individual who robs or assaults a postal worker is now $150,000.

“There is no more important mission for us as federal agents than protecting postal workers from crime and violence,” said Inspector in Charge Nuñez. “To any copycats or wannabes out there who might consider robbing a postal worker, I ask you to consider the years you will face in federal prison, the price on your head, and that postal inspectors will not stop hunting you. The proceeds of this crime are not worth your freedom.”

U.S. Attorney Ramsey stated that most of the cases involved the theft of specialized postal keys that often grant access to large mailboxes or mail storage facilities. Holding one such postal key in his hand, U.S. Attorney Ramsey explained that federal laws have been “carefully crafted to protect the sanctity of the mail, including the sensitive information we entrust to the mail system; the safety of the federal employees and contractors who deliver the mail; and the federal property that is used to ensure mail delivery.” He then went on to describe how three of the defendants are alleged to have violated the law as follows:

•    Robert Devon Nicholson Bell, Jr., 19, of Antioch, Calif., is alleged to have participated in at least two armed robberies of letter carriers, one in Antioch and one in San Francisco. Allegations in the criminal complaint filed against the defendant describe Bell’s use of mail keys to steal mail from blue mailboxes. According to a criminal complaint, Bell was found in Antioch in possession of robbed postal keys, a substantial quantity of stolen mail, a fraudulent USPS ID with his picture, and stolen and counterfeit checks. He now faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of the postal key, as well as 25 years for each of the armed robberies. (Case No. 23-mj-71439 MAG)

•    Anthony Medina, 42, of American Canyon, Calif., is alleged to have unlawfully possessed seven mail keys. According to the complaint, officers with the San Francisco Police Department were attempting to perform a traffic stop when the defendant attempted to flee. Officers arrested the defendant and, in addition to the keys, defendant is alleged to have possessed credit cards in the names of other individuals, images of suspected stolen mail, and access codes for an apartment complex in San Francisco. Medina now faces 10 years in prison for each violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1704—the unlawful possession of the postal keys, as well as possible prosecution for unlawful possession of mail and credit cards. (Case No. 23-mj-71443 MAG)

•    Derek Hopson, 33, of Oakland, Calif., is alleged to have stolen mail and postal keys in two separate incidents that occurred in June of 2023. The complaint alleges the San Francisco Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a residence in the Mission District of San Francisco when officers encountered the defendant in possession of several postal keys. Hopson also allegedly used a mailbox key to gain access to mailboxes at a residential complex in the Presidio of San Francisco. He now faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison for violating 18 U.S.C. sections 1704 and 1706. (Case No. 23-mj-71403 MAG)

Indictments and criminal complaints merely allege that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Further, in addition to the prison terms described, as part of any sentence following conviction the court may order defendants to serve an additional term of supervised release to begin after a prison term, additional fines, and restitution, if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The prosecution of these cases are the result of investigations by the United States Postal Inspection Service.