Great Lakes Wire

Two men have been sentenced for armed robberies targeting U.S. Postal Service mail carriers in the Detroit area, as announced by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. The announcement was made alongside Sean McStravick, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division.

Michael Lamar Smith-Ellis from Detroit and Terrance Tucker from Phoenix, Arizona were each sentenced to seven years in federal prison by United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmund.

Court records indicate that Smith-Ellis and Tucker committed armed robberies against mail carriers in Taylor and Northville, Michigan during September and October 2023. They demanded "arrow keys," which are USPS master keys used to access postal mailboxes for theft purposes. Law enforcement apprehended the two men shortly after a robbery in Northville. A search of their vehicle uncovered firearms, gear, multiple credit cards under different names, a USPS key ring, and an "arrow key."

“We all know the commitment of postal carriers to deliver the mail no matter the conditions. And we are committed to protecting them as they do their job,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon said. “These violent criminals deserve a serious sentence.”

“The safety of postal employees is a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the federal law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service,” said Sean McStravick, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division. “Let this sentence serve as a warning to those who attempt or conspire to harm postal employees for personal gain: we will find you and we will ensure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The case was investigated by USPIS with assistance from police departments in Taylor, Northville, and Livonia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan Ho prosecuted on behalf of the United States.