Four Essex County Men Charged in Armed Robbery of Postal Worker

Newark men face multiple charges, including armed robbery, wire fraud, and possession of firearms.

Four Essex County men have been charged in connection with the armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service employee, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. The defendants, all from Newark, face a range of charges including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, assaulting a federal officer, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Who:

Troy D. Corbett Jr., 28
Dyshawn Williams, 28
Antwuan Brown, 24
Karieem Stamps, 25

What:

Charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and other related offenses.
Specific charges include assaulting or impeding a federal officer, possession of ammunition, drug trafficking, and possession of firearms.

When:

The armed robbery occurred in November 2023.
Arrests were made on August 1, 2024.

Where:

The robbery took place in Newark, NJ.
Arrests were made in Newark and Mecklenburg, NC.

Why:

The suspects allegedly robbed a U.S. Postal Service employee at gunpoint, stealing personal items and using stolen debit cards for fraudulent transactions.

How:

The suspects used a firearm to rob the postal worker, later using stolen debit cards for purchases that involved interstate commerce.

Details of the Case:

In November 2023, Corbett, Williams, and an unidentified accomplice robbed a U.S. Postal Service employee at gunpoint in Newark, taking the victim’s cell phone, keys, wallet, and credit and debit cards. This robbery impeded the victim's ability to deliver mail, affecting interstate commerce. Following the robbery, Stamps and Brown used the stolen debit card for separate transactions, with both purchases processed through servers outside New Jersey.

Additional Charges:

Corbett, previously convicted of felony offenses in 2018, was found with methamphetamine and a loaded firearm on January 18, 2024.
Stamps, a convicted felon as of 2020, was found with a Glock 29 Gen5 handgun and 25 rounds of ammunition on August 1, 2024.

Potential Penalties:

Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and assaulting a federal employee: Up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Wire fraud: Up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Aggravated identity theft: Mandatory two-year prison sentence.
Possession of ammunition or firearms by convicted felons: Up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Drug trafficking: Up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime: Mandatory five-year prison sentence and up to life in prison.

The charges and allegations are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.