Joe Robert Martinez, Post Office Robbery, Texas 2016

HOUSTON - In a brazen act of violence, a 40-year-old man brandished a firearm during a robbery at a Houston post office. According to court documents, Joe Robert Martinez, of Houston, entered the post office located at 3816 North Shepherd in Houston on Jan. 28, 2016 and inquired about tracking a package.

After exiting the building, Martinez returned with a gun and allegedly demanded the clerk open the cash drawer and give him money. He ordered her to her knees before making off with the currency, according to the allegations.

Martinez is charged with robbing the post office and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison for the robbery, in addition to a mandatory minimum of seven years for the firearms charge.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in cooperation with the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Porto and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

Martinez, 40, of Houston, was taken into custody Friday and is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson at 10:00 a.m. today.

The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the importance of community vigilance in preventing such crimes. As the investigation continues, the Houston community can rest assured that justice will be served.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/houston-man-charged-garden-oaks-post-office-robbery