Two Men Charged With Assault Of Postal Worker

BOSTON – Two men were charged yesterday in connection with the attempted robbery, assault and kidnapping of a U.S. Postal letter carrier.

Maurice Williams Miner-Gittens, 23, and Keyon Taylor, 21, both of Dorchester were indicted with conspiracy, assault, robbery, attempted kidnapping, and kidnapping of a federal employee, as well as the use of a firearm in connection with these crimes. In January 2014, both men were arrested and held on federal criminal complaints.

In December 2013, Miner-Gittens and Taylor allegedly jumped into a postal truck in Dorchester and put a pistol to the letter carrier’s head. When the letter carrier attempted to move the gun away, he was shot in the wrist and was subsequently beaten with the pistol and kicked, told to take off his postal uniform and lie face down.

It is alleged that Taylor took the letter carrier’s keys and started to drive the postal truck away. According to the affidavit filed with the previous complaint, the letter carrier, who was bleeding extensively and who feared for his life, escaped by jumping out of the back door of the truck and running away. Taylor allegedly drove the truck a short distance before abandoning it and fleeing on foot, leaving a trail of boot prints in the snow and his blood on a chain link fence from a wound on his hand. The trail of boot prints led through several back yards to a trash or recycling bin, which also had his blood on the handle. The letter carrier's uniform, cell phone and personal keys were found in the bin.

Miner-Gittens allegedly rented and drove a U-Haul van that was used during the attempted robbery, which had the letter carrier’s blood on the outside.

If convicted, Miner- Gittens and Taylor each face a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison on the charge of kidnapping; five years in prison on the charges of conspiracy; 20 years in prison on the charge of assault; 25 years in prison on the charge of robbery of federal property, and 10 years in prison on and after the other sentences for the use of a firearm in furtherance of the crimes of violence. In addition, Gittens and Taylor face a maximum of five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, made the announcement. The case is being prosecuted by Thomas E. Kanwit of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.