Four individuals have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a mail theft and bank fraud scheme in Newport News, Virginia. The group was involved in stealing mail and depositing counterfeit checks.
Court documents reveal that on July 6, 2023, Andre Ephraim Billups Jr., 22, from Gloucester, and Johnny Ray Riddick, also known as Glo, 24, from Newport News, robbed a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in Newport News. Riddick acted as the getaway driver while Billups served as the gunman. Billups approached the letter carrier and coerced her into handing over an arrow key used to access various mailboxes.
After obtaining the key, Billups fled to an apartment belonging to Alexis Sierra West, 24, of Newport News. West hid the key as instructed by Riddick and later lied to law enforcement about her knowledge of the robbery. Riddick and Billups used the arrow key multiple times to illegally access USPS collection boxes and steal mail.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began surveillance due to numerous complaints of mail theft. On December 3, 2023, during surveillance at Hidenwood Post Office in Newport News by USPIS officers along with agents from ATF and NNPD, Karon-Omar Gary drove Billups to a collection box outside the post office. Armed with a handgun and rifle loaded with ammunition, Billups attempted to access the mailbox but was interrupted by law enforcement.
As officers pursued them through multiple counties at high speeds reaching nearly 100 miles per hour, Gloucester County law enforcement deployed stop sticks to disable their vehicle. Gary was apprehended immediately while Billups fled on foot before surrendering after disposing of his weapon.
Investigators recovered stolen items including postal keys alongside firearms within their vehicle alongside digital evidence linking them further into fraudulent activities involving card cracking schemes such as check washing or smacking accounts where they deposited altered checks then withdrew funds before detection occurred using supplies maintained within West’s apartment premises operated primarily between both male conspirators themselves often sending images via phone communications back-and-forth enabling production processes accordingly therein ultimately leading towards final convictions upon respective plea agreements reached prior thereto each party concerned herein individually thusly convicted thereof eventually sentenced subsequently following adjudication thereof duly pronounced officially thereby presiding judge present court session held aforementioned occasions noted hereinabove statement contextually relating specifically pertaining matter discussed above 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"Erik S. Siebert," said Erik S. Siebert who serves as U.S Attorney for Eastern District Virginia adding Damon E Wood Inspector Charge Washington Division US Postal Inspection Service Steve Drew Chief Newport News Police Ronald Montgomery York County Sheriff Darrell W Warren Jr Gloucester County Sheriff were involved announcement following sentencing U.S District Judge Jamar K Walker presided case proceedings "Assistant U.S Attorney Julie Podlesni prosecuted case."
Further details regarding this case can be found on websites belonging either US Attorney’s Office Eastern District Virginia related court documents information accessible through District Court PACER search function Case No:4:23-cr-94