2 going through federal costs in reference to armed robberies of postal employees in Mattapan and Hyde Park

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Myesha Lewis, 22, and Kenneth Demosthene, 22, are accused of stealing arrow keys, used to open USPS mailboxes in designated areas, from two postal employees in 2022.

Two Massachusetts residents are going through federal costs in reference to armed robberies of postal employees that occurred final yr in Mattapan and Hyde Park. 

Myesha Lewis, 22, of Boston, and Kenneth Demosthene, 22, of Stoughton appeared in federal court docket in Boston on Thursday, in keeping with the US Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of Massachusetts. They’re accused of stealing arrow keys, used to open the blue mail assortment bins in a delegated space, from postal employees in November and December. It’s a federal offense for any “unauthorized individual” to own an arrow key.

They’re each going through two counts of theft of any individual having lawful cost, management, or custody of any mail matter or of any cash or different property of the US, aiding and abetting. They’re additionally going through two counts every of assaulting, resisting, or impeding sure officers or staff, aiding and abetting.

Federal prosecutors allege that on Nov. 29, 2022, Lewis and Demosthene adopted after which robbed a letter service of an arrow key in Mattapan earlier than fleeing the scene in a rental automobile. 

Demosthene allegedly approached the postal employee, telling them, “I’m going to want your grasp key,” after which reaching into the letter service’s satchel and grabbing the important thing.

“The important thing was secured across the letter service’s belt with a brass chain,” the USAO stated in a press release. “It’s alleged that the pressure used to bodily break the brass chain precipitated the letter service to be pulled off the entrance steps.”

On Dec. 16, 2022, prosecutors allege the pair adopted and robbed one other letter service of an arrow key at knifepoint in Hyde Park. 

“Demosthene allegedly approached the USPS letter service and stated, ‘Give me your f****** arrow key,’” the USAO stated in a press release. “It’s alleged that the letter service put their arms within the air because the defendants tried to take away the arrow key, at first by pressure pulling on the chain. Demosthene and Lewis then allegedly tried to chop it with the knife, finally breaking it free, and fled the scene on foot.”

Lewis and Demosthene are going through a sentence of as much as 25 years in jail for the theft cost, in keeping with prosecutors. The assault cost offers for a sentence of as much as 20 years in jail. 

The pair had been launched with particular circumstances following their court docket look Thursday. 

Authorities stated that the United State Postal Service has seen an increase in the usage of arrow keys to steal mail. Since July 2022 there have been at the very least 13 assaults on postal employees in Boston and the encompassing areas, together with 10 tried, or profitable, robberies of arrow keys from the letter service. 

Six of these robberies noticed the suspects armed with a knife, firearm, or each, in keeping with the USAO.