COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two men were sentenced for their roles in aiding the armed robberies of postal carriers in Columbus.
According to U.S. Attorney Kenneth Park’s office, 23-year-old Cody Beasley and 21-year-old Kenan Lay were sentenced in federal court. Beasley got more than six years in prison while Lay got more than five and a half years.
According to Beasley’s court documents, on April 4, two suspects robbed a USPS mail carrier at gunpoint. The worker was sitting in his work vehicle on Sawmill Road in Dublin when the robbery occurred.
Parker’s office says Beasley directed the armed robbery and paid the two suspects $500 for committing the robbery as planned.
Beasley also admitted to stealing a postal key in March 2023 in the Cleveland area. He and another person were stopped for a traffic violation and fled from law enforcement.
Officers eventually detained the men and searched their vehicle where they discovered a trash bag filled with pieces of mail that had not yet been postmarked. A cellphone also revealed photos of stolen checks and research about 38 post offices and blue USPS collection boxes in Cleveland.
Lay’s court documents detail an event on May 11, 2023, where Lay provided the handgun used in the armed robbery of a postal worker at an office on West Broad Street. The coconspirators involved paid Lay $100 for the use of his gun.
The gun was also used to pistol-whip the postal worker in the head, Parker’s office says.
The two men are among five other defendants charged in their cases.
“These sentences illustrate that we will continue to take seriously offenses committed against postal carriers,” Parker said. “Even if you are not the person holding the gun or directly committing the robbery, we will hold you accountable for your role in the crime and work to ensure that you face time in federal prison like Beasley and Lay. Trust me, serving any amount of time in prison is just not worth it.”
