NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Three people were charged on Wednesday for robbing USPS mail carriers at gunpoint in Hempstead and Queens earlier this year, prosecutors said.
Between February and March 2023, the suspects allegedly coordinated a series of thefts, with one using a handgun to steal USPS collection box keys, another serving as the getaway driver, and a third attempting to sell the keys online.
On Feb. 22, a juvenile suspect allegedly approached a USPS mail carrier, who was walking up to a home in Hempstead, and displayed a handgun, demanding the victim give over his keys, according to the indictment.
The juvenile defendant allegedly forcibly took the keys from the victims belt and ran away in a car driven by Melajah Taffe, 22.
In another incident, the juvenile suspect allegedly approached another postal carrier on March 22 in Whitestone, Queens, displayed a gun and took the victims keys.
The juvenile and Taffe later allegedly brought back the keys to Nassau County to use it.
In both incidents, Kimora Dupree, 20, allegedly sent Instagram messages to identify drivers for the robberies and posted the keys on Instagram to sell them.
According to the indictment, the suspects took a mail truck key, and two other postal keys, which opened all the mailboxes, collection boxes, parcel lockers, and other USPS property along the mail carrier's route.
Dupree surrendered on Nov. 1 and Taffe was arrested on Oct. 10.
The juvenile was apprehended in Virginia on Oct. 25 and was extradited to Nassau County on Monday.
"These individuals targeted USPS carriers, stealing keys to exploit them online," DA Donnelly stated. "We're committed to protecting Nassau County's mail carriers against rising violence for postal keys."Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly
Dupree and Taffe each face two counts of first and second degree robbery.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
The juvenile offender was arraigned on similar charges and was remanded after pleading not guilty.
