COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus man pleaded guilty in court on Thursday to crimes related to robberies of United States postal carriers in 2022, according to U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker.
The attorney's office said 20-year-old Anthony "AJ" Williams admitted to the charges of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, committing aggravated robbery of United States property and conspiring to commit an offense against the United States.
According to court documents, on Nov. 9, 2022, Williams committed an armed robbery of a U.S. postal carrier who was delivering mail on Michigan Avenue in Columbus. Williams approached the postal carrier and pointed a Glock 19 firearm at them, demanding their postal keys. He then proceeded to pull the keys off of the carrier's belt.
Williams sent photos of the stolen key to another individual who was organizing the robbery, the attorney's office said.
He also worked with the same individual to plan a postal robbery for Christmas Eve in 2022 and repeatedly "fished" for stolen mail with stolen postal keys.
His plea recommends a sentence of seven to nine years in prison.