11-01-05 -- Williams, Khayyan -- Guilty Plea -- News Release

Camden Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Postal Truck at Glendora Post Office

CAMDEN - A Camden man pleaded guilty today to assaulting and robbing a U.S. Postal Service contractor of a registered mail pouch that contained $28,517 worth of U.S. currency, checks, money orders and Civil War medals, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Khayyan Williams, 28, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 10, 2006.

At his plea hearing, Williams admitted that a friend named Bryon Walls, 29, of Camden, told him that he knew of a way to rob a post office. Williams and Walls then discussed the need for a third person who would actually commit the robbery, Williams admitted. According to Williams, he then recruited an individual he knew as "Nate," and obtained an imitation gun for Nate to use in the robbery.

On Nov. 23, 2004, Walls picked up Williams and Nate and then drove to the area of the Glendora Post Office, according to Williams. Walls explained to Nate that there would be money on a postal truck and that all Nate had to do was snatch a locked bag from the truck, according to Williams. Nate then exited the vehicle to rob the truck and returned carrying a locked pouch, according to Williams. The three then fled the area and traveled to Wall's residence where they split up the proceeds according to Williams, who admitted his share was about $7,000.

On Nov. 24, 2004, law enforcement officers spotted Walls driving a Dodge Stratus that was used in the robbery of the Glendora Post Office. It was later learned that the vehicle was leased to a girlfriend of Walls. Having waived his Miranda rights, Walls told officers he committed an earlier theft on Nov, 4, 2004, of the Blackwood Post Office, in which he took postal bags containing $25,555 in U.S. currency, $17,049 in checks and Civil War medals. In addition, he admitted to being a participant, and being in the getaway car, during the Glendora Post Office robbery, along with Williams and Nate. Subsequently, Williams was arrested on state charges, which were dismissed with his plea to the federal charge.

Williams pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of robbing a post office and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Judge Kugler set Williams bail at $50,000 pending sentencing.

Walls is awaiting trial on federal charges. The individual identified as "Nate," who is known to law enforcement, has not been charged federally at this time and remains in state prison on unrelated charges. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

In determining an actual sentence, Judge Kugler will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

In the filing of a felony Information, a defendant waives the right to have his or her case presented to a federal grand jury and, instead, pleads guilty to charges presented by the Government.

Christie credited Inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, New Jersey Caribbean Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas C. Van De Merlen.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Wiener of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Camden.

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Defense Attorney: Robert Simons, Esq. Haddon Heights