4 Face Charges In Mail Theft, Possessing Postal Service Keys

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging four defendants with theft of mail and the unlawful possession of postal service keys. The indictment was returned July 21 and unsealed Monday upon the defendant’s arrests. Charged in the indictment are:

• Eyalan Owona, age 21, of Upper Malboro, Maryland;
• Ibrahim Kourouma, age 22, of Glenarden, Maryland
• Ali Dickerson, age 20, of Hyattsville, Maryland; and
• Benjamin Washington, age 22, of Owings Mills, Maryland

According to the two-count indictment, on May 25, the defendants allegedly unlawfully possessed proprietary United States Postal Service keys with the intent to use, sell and dispose of the keys. On the same day, the defendants allegedly stole mail from a United States Postal Service depository located on Stanford Street in Bethesda. The mail that was stolen in the theft included the mail of a victim who lives in Silver Spring.

According to federal officials, at least 13 robberies involving USPS letter carriers have happened in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area between May 23 and July 7.

If convicted on the current charges, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison possession of United States Postal Service keys and five years in federal prison for the theft of mail matter. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.