Elijah Rasue Dewayne Ellis, Armed Robbery, South Carolina 2022

A federal investigation has led to the arrest and detention of Elijah Rasue Dewayne Ellis, 21, a/k/a “Smoke,” a/k/a “Black,” and two accomplices for their alleged involvement in the armed robbery of a United States Postal carrier in Columbia, South Carolina.

According to the charges, on March 17, 2022, a postal carrier was robbed at gunpoint in Columbia. Ellis and his accomplices, Don Everett Peters, III, 21, a/k/a “Pop,” and Shylik Lamont Smalls, 22, a/k/a “Mitch,” were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery of a postal carrier, armed robbery of a postal carrier, and theft/possession of a postal arrow key.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment on the armed robbery charge, five years on the conspiracy charge, and 10 years on the theft/possession of the arrow key charge. Ellis and his accomplices are currently being held in detention.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey D. Haynes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar Fyall are prosecuting the case.

U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis stated that all charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, a joint federal, state, and local effort aimed at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

Ellis, Peters, and Smalls are scheduled to appear in federal court in Columbia for their first appearance on federal complaints charging them with the aforementioned crimes.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/three-federally-charged-armed-robbery-columbia-postal-carrier