Judge delivers lengthy sentences for men who robbed mail carrier

FLORIDA – Two Tampa men have been sentenced for the armed robbery of a mail carrier.

Omar Rochester Miller, Jr., 23, and Christopher Diaz, aka “Chico,” 27, were sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mizelle.

Miller was sentenced to nine years and two months in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier, theft of postal keys, and brandishing a firearm during the commission of the robbery.

Diaz was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys.

Diaz pleaded guilty on January 10, 2023. A federal jury found Miller guilty on January 25, 2023.

According to evidence presented at trial, Miller robbed a letter carrier at gunpoint while she was delivering mail at an apartment complex. Miller approached the letter carrier from behind, pointed a firearm at her, threatened to shoot her, and demanded her postal keys.

After Miller stole the postal keys, he reportedly pushed the mail carrier to the ground and ran to a waiting getaway car driven by Edwin Betancourt Vega.

According to evidence, the robbery was organized through phone calls and text messages between Betancourt Vega and Diaz to coordinate the robbery and sale of the postal keys in exchange for cash. Law enforcement said they recovered the postal keys, as well as proceeds from the sale of the key from both Miller and Betancourt Vega. They recovered the firearm used in the robbery, which contained Miller’s DNA.

Betancourt Vega was also charged for his role in the robbery as a getaway driver. He pleaded guilty to armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys.

On February 3, 2023, Betancourt Vega was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.

“Employee safety is a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Juan Vargas, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division.

“These convictions and sentences demonstrate the commitment of the Inspection Service, as well as our partners at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to bring justice to anyone who would endanger the public servants of the Postal Service.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Stacie B. Harris prosecuted it.