ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Melisa Llosa, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division of U.S. Postal Inspection Service, announced that Cisco Casaus-Alires was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Casaus-Alires, 21, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on June 29 to robbery of mail, money and other property of the United States and brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence.
On Nov. 7, 2020, Casaus-Alires robbed a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier at gunpoint in southeast Albuquerque, demanding the letter carrier’s cell phone, USPS keys and mail. On Dec. 26, 2020, in southwest Albuquerque, Casaus-Alires robbed another letter carrier at gunpoint. Casaus-Alires demanded the letter carrier’s wallet, phone and USPS keys, and then demanded that the letter carrier load parcels into Casaus-Alires’ vehicle.
On Dec. 28, 2020, in south Albuquerque, Casaus-Alires robbed a third letter carrier at gunpoint, demanding the letter carrier’s wallet, phone and USPS keys. As Casaus-Alires took mail and parcels from the USPS vehicle, he asked the letter carrier where “the good stuff” is delivered, then fled the area.
“USPS Letter Carriers walk our streets on a daily basis to bring us everything from checks to medicine to gifts,” said United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez. “Delivering mail should not be a dangerous job. We will hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of those who work tirelessly to serve our community.”
“The highest priority of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating acts of violence against USPS employees,” stated Melisa Llosa, Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division. “Through collaboration with our law enforcement partners, Casuas-Alires is no longer a threat to USPS Letter Carriers or the public. This substantial sentence is a message to all criminals. If you rob a USPS employee, Postal Inspectors will not stop until you are brought to justice. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Albuquerque Police Department for their support on this investigation.”
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case.