Grand jury indicts Columbus man for committing 2 armed robberies against U.S. postal carriers

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was indicted and arrested for federal crimes related to armed robberies of United States postal carriers.

Anthony J. (“AJ”) Williams, 19, was arrested yesterday in Pittsburgh and will make his initial appearance there today. He is charged with conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, aggravated robbery of property of the United States, and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to the indictment, in November and December 2022, Williams robbed two postal carriers of their service keys. Williams allegedly brandished a Glock 19 firearm at the first victim and wounded the second victim by punching him in the face.

The four-count indictment details that Williams allegedly conspired with at least four other individuals to rob postal service employees of their service keys to access USPS “blue boxes” and steal checks and money orders.

Specifically, it is alleged that on Nov. 9, 2022, Williams committed an armed robbery against a postal carrier on Michigan Avenue in Columbus. Williams allegedly received $2,000from co-conspirators for stealing the carrier’s service key.

On Christmas Eve in 2022, Williams allegedly punched a Canal Winchester postal carrier who was working on Kodiak Drive and threatened to kill him if he did not turn over his postal service key.

Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is punishable by at least seven years and up to life in prison. Aggravated robbery of government property carries a potential penalty of up to 25 years in prison. Conspiring to commit an offense against the United States is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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