PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia man is behind bars for what could be a very long time after he allegedly robbed two postal workers while they were on the job.
James Chandler, 54, made his first appearance in federal court Friday and has been detained pending trial. He was charged with two counts of robbery of a United States postal employee and one count of kidnapping.
Authorities say in two different incidents, on Jan. 11 and Feb. 4, he used a replica of a handgun to rob two postal workers while they were making deliveries in West Philadelphia.
In the February incident, he allegedly forced the mail carrier into the truck and then made her drive him around for several blocks before he took off with stolen packages.
If found guilty, Chandler could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.