Providence Man Sentenced for Robbery and Assault of U.S. Postal Carrier

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A federal judge on Monday sentenced a Providence man in connection with the robbery and assault of a U.S, Postal Service carrier and the trafficking of more than 500 grams of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

United States District Judge William E. Smith sentenced Juan Bautista Rosario-Sandoval, 31, to 40 months in federal prison following convictions for conspiracy to assault and rob a U.S. mail carrier, and conspiracy to possess more than 500 grams of cocaine. Rosario-Sandoval plead guilty to the charges on December 23, 2023.

According to court records, Rosario-Sandoval admitted that, on September 18, 2021, he and another person approached a U.S. mail carrier and conspired to forcibly take a Priority Mail Express Parcel addressed for delivery to a Providence address. When the postal carrier refused to hand over the package, Rosario-Sandoval and the second person opened the doors to the carrier’s Postal Service vehicle, began to pull at and punch the carrier, and then stole and fled with the package.  The mail carrier suffered several injuries.

Rosario-Sandoval further admitted to receiving multiple packages of cocaine delivered through the U.S. Mail to addresses in Providence, with gross weights in excess of 500 grams of cocaine.

Rosario-Sandoval is a citizen of the Dominican Republic and will face immigration proceedings upon completion of his sentence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly Chin.

The matter was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service agents, with the assistance of Providence Police and the Rhode Island State Police.

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