Montgomery, Alabama – On February 27, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 38-year-old Jermain Tyrone Holmes, from Dothan, Alabama, to 130 months in prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. The sentence followed his conviction for robbery of a postal worker. In addition, the judge ordered that Holmes serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on April 26, 2023, a Dothan mail carrier was working his route when he encountered Holmes standing beside one of the mailboxes. Holmes asked the mail carrier for directions, then pulled out a handgun and demanded money. The mail carrier complied and gave Holmes his wallet and other personal items. Holmes fled the scene on foot. The carrier then called 911 to report the robbery. Responding officers apprehended Holmes a short time later.
“Postal workers are a crucial part of our communities, providing an invaluable service to private citizens and businesses alike,” said Acting United States Attorney Ross. “My office takes its duty to protect postal employees and the U.S. Mail very seriously. Blatant acts of violence against postal workers cannot, and will not, go unpunished.”
“Postal Inspectors’ duties include protecting postal employees and investigating violent crimes that are committed against them,” said Scott Fix, Inspector-in-Charge for the Houston Division. “The sentence handed down to Jermain Holmes for the robbery of our Letter Carrier should serve as a reminder we will aggressively investigate to find those responsible and bring them to justice. We are grateful to the Dothan, AL Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.”
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Dothan Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted.