Three San Antonio residents have been arrested and charged in connection with a mail theft scheme that involved the shooting of a U.S. Mail carrier last week in Spring Branch, Texas.
On February 11, 2017, 22-year-old Bradley A’Hearn shot a female U.S. Mail carrier as she was delivering mail to a cluster of mailboxes when she refused to give him her cell phone. The victim is recovering from a gunshot wound to her leg.
A’Hearn left the scene in the victim’s pickup truck, which still contained the victim’s purse and personal effects as well as a considerable amount of U.S. Mail. Sara Richford, 26, was driving a maroon/brown colored Toyota Venza that followed A’Hearn as he left the scene.
The complaint also alleges that on February 13, 2017, a U.S. Postal Inspection Service agent near the site of the shooting recognized the Toyota Venza vehicle. The agent, while attempting to stop the vehicle, was allegedly fired upon by A’Hearn. Other law enforcement personnel, who subsequently joined the pursuit, were also fired upon by A’Hearn.
The defendants managed to avoid capture until this morning, when San Antonio police officers, acting on information provided to investigators, arrested them without incident in a parking lot of a local motel.
Bradley A’Hearn and Sara Richford face up to 20 years in federal prison for assault of a federal agent, up to 25 years in federal prison for carjacking, up to 20 years in federal prison for violating the Hobbs Act, and up to five years in federal prison for mail theft. Piper Lee, 40, faces up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction for aiding and abetting the assault of a federal officer.
All three defendants are scheduled for an initial appearance tomorrow at 11:00am in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Bemporad. Detention hearings are likely to be scheduled for next week.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service together with the San Antonio Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Bulverde Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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