Sacramento County Man Indicted on Conspiracy, Armed Robbery, and Fraud Charges

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment today against Damian Deleal, 30, of Carmichael, charging him with conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, armed robbery of a U.S. Mail carrier, possession of a stolen Postal Service key, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of stolen U.S. mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott  announced.

According to court documents, in March 2018, Deleal conspired with other individuals to rob a mail carrier of a U.S. Postal Service key that was capable of opening numerous residential mailboxes in Sacramento. Deleal conspired to obtain the key so he and his coconspirators – including Jayce Powell, Brandon Moses, and Loren Patrick – could commit bank fraud and identity theft using bankcards, checks, and other financial instruments stolen from the mail.

On March 9, 2018, in South Sacramento, an unnamed co-conspirator robbed a mail carrier at gunpoint and took a Postal Service key. Although the gun resembled a real firearm, investigators later determined it was a BB gun that Deleal supplied as part of the conspiracy. During the following week, Deleal, Powell, Moses, and Patrick used the key to steal mailed bankcards and checks. They then posed as the victims and attempted to use their bankcards and checks to purchase goods and obtain cash.

Deleal and Powell further conspired to fraudulently claim reward money offered for information relating to the robbery and the stolen Postal Service key. In executing this plan, they planted the stolen key on Moses while he was sleeping in his car and called the U.S. Postal Service to report Moses’ location and inquire about the reward. After receiving this tip, investigators worked quickly to make arrests and learned that Deleal orchestrated the conspiracy and related crimes.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rodriguez and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Artuz are prosecuting the case.

Deleal is currently in custody on unrelated charges. Powell, Moses, and Patrick have already pleaded guilty to federal charges in the following related cases in this district: U.S. v. Patrick, 2:18-cr-079-MCE; U.S. v. Powell, 2:18-cr-083-MCE; and U.S. v. Moses, 2:18-cr-090‑MCE.

If convicted of bank fraud, Deleal faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If convicted of armed robbery, he faces a maximum statutory penalty of 25 years in prison and a $1 million fine. If convicted of aggravated identity theft, he faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed. The maximum sentence for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.