ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Shyasia Kelis McCullough, 23, and Malik Shameer McCray, 24, both of Rochester, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of USPS mailbox keys, mail theft, robbery of a USPS letter carrier, and conspiracy. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on June 5, 2023, while delivering mail on Lake Avenue in Rochester, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was robbed of his keys, which included a mailbox key, vehicle key, and keys to secured buildings along the mail delivery route. Postal Inspectors reviewed video surveillance in the area and identified a suspect and a vehicle suspected of being involved in the robbery. A few days later, on June 9, 2023, a Gates Police Officer spotted the vehicle entering the Westgate Post Office and conducted a traffic stop. McCray was driving the vehicle and McCullough was a passenger. McCray was taken into custody on traffic violations.
During the execution of a search warrant on the vehicle, officers located multiple filled out personal checks with multiple different names on them, as well as a USPS vehicle key and other keys similar to the ones stolen from the letter carrier. Also recovered, numerous cell phones, ski masks, blank check stock paper, invoices, and portions of what appeared to be invoice remittance slips, bank credit/debit cards and identifications in names other than the defendants. These items are indicative of mail theft, check washing, and bank fraud. A ledger was also found listing what appeared to be individuals who provided access to their financial accounts for the purposes of fraudulent check deposits. A review of McCray’s cell phone recovered a chat between McCray and McCullough, with the two discussing the robbery of the mail carrier. It also recovered a photo of the stolen mail keys.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Boston Division Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Long.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.