Postal Carrier Heists: Two More Central Ohio Men Indicted

Central Ohio is seeing a surge in brazen attacks on the U.S. Postal Service, and the feds are responding. Cameron D. Newton, 19, of Westerville, and Thierno S. Bah, 20, of Columbus, were slapped with a grand jury indictment August 10th, accused of four separate armed robberies of postal carriers between December 2022 and May 2023. This isn’t an isolated incident; federal prosecutors in Columbus are building a case against a network of thieves targeting the mail.

The indictment details a pattern of violence and theft. Newton and Bah allegedly used firearms to strong-arm postal workers out of their USPS keys – keys that unlock access to mailboxes and, ultimately, to stolen checks, cash, and potentially much worse. One incident, occurring on May 11, 2023, involved a postal worker being pistol-whipped during the robbery. The feds say they recovered the stolen key during a search of Newton’s residence.

This case isn’t happening in a vacuum. Brandon J. Campbell recently received a 78-month sentence for two similar robberies. Meanwhile, Mahad S. Jama, Da’Mon D. May, and Cody N. Beasley are already facing charges for an April 2023 armed robbery in Dublin. Federal prosecutors are clearly signaling they’re treating these crimes as part of a coordinated effort, and they’re determined to dismantle it. The pattern is disturbing, and the public deserves to know who is behind these violent acts.

The specific dates of the alleged robberies involving Newton and Bah are: December 29, 2022; January 3, 2023 (two separate incidents on the same day); and May 11, 2023. The feds are building a timeline, connecting the dots between these heists, and using evidence – like the recovered USPS key – to solidify their case. Bah, who also goes by the street names “Wopo” and “Wopoonese,” was arrested on the day of the indictment.

If convicted, Newton and Bah face serious time. Beyond prison sentences, the feds are going after any profits made from the robberies. Newton could lose approximately $22,000 in alleged proceeds. The penalties for armed robbery are steep, and the addition of a firearm charge significantly increases the potential sentence. Possessing a stolen USPS key is also a federal offense, carrying additional consequences.

This isn’t just about stolen mail; it’s about the safety of postal workers and the security of the U.S. mail system. The feds are sending a clear message: targeting postal carriers will be met with swift and severe prosecution. The investigation is ongoing, and Grimy Times will continue to track this case and expose the criminals preying on those who deliver our mail.