Omar Rochester Miller Jr. and Christopher Diaz, Armed Robbery of a Mail Carrier, Florida 2023

Tampa, FL - Two men from Tampa, Florida, were sentenced in connection with the armed robbery of a postal mail carrier.

Omar Rochester Miller Jr. (23, Tampa) and Christopher Diaz, aka Chico (27, Tampa), were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mizelle for their roles in the armed robbery of a postal mail carrier. Miller was sentenced to 9 years and 2 months in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier, theft of postal keys, and brandishing a firearm during the commission of the robbery. Diaz was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys.

According to evidence presented at trial, Miller robbed a letter carrier at gunpoint while she was delivering mail at an apartment complex. Miller approached the letter carrier from behind, pointed a firearm at her, threatened to shoot her, and demanded her postal keys. After Miller stole the postal keys, he pushed the mail carrier to the ground and ran to a waiting getaway car, driven by Edwin Betancourt Vega. This robbery was organized through phone calls and text messages between Betancourt Vega and Diaz, to coordinate the robbery and sale of the postal keys in exchange for cash.

Law enforcement recovered the postal keys, as well as proceeds from the sale of the key from both Miller and Betancourt Vega. They also recovered the firearm used in the robbery, which contained Miller’s DNA. Betancourt Vega was also charged for his role in the robbery as a getaway driver. He pleaded guilty to armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys. On February 3, 2023, Betancourt Vega was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in federal prison.

“Employee safety is a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Juan Vargas, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division. “These convictions and sentences demonstrate the commitment of the Inspection Service, as well as our partners at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to bring justice to anyone who would endanger the public servants of the Postal Service.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Stacie B. Harris.

Omar Rochester Miller Jr. was found guilty by a federal jury on January 25, 2023. Diaz had pleaded guilty on January 10, 2023.

Tampa, Florida, is home to many hardworking postal employees, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring their safety.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/tampa-men-sentenced-armed-robbery-mail-carrier