NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Hampton man was convicted by a federal jury this week on charges related to a mail theft conspiracy and illegal possession of a firearm.
Jamal Ashton Shields, 33, was found guilty of conspiracy, mail theft, and receiving a firearm while under felony indictment. The verdict stems from an incident last summer when Shields and two co-conspirators targeted a postal collection box outside the Patrick Henry Post Office in Newport News.
The Crime Unfolds
On July 22, 2024, Shields drove to the post office with Sampson G. Jumbo, 28, of the Bronx, New York, and another accomplice. What the trio didn’t know was that law enforcement had the site under surveillance due to prior break-ins.
Jumbo and the third suspect used an arrow key—a master key designed to open postal collection boxes—to steal mail. Officers moved in, prompting all three to flee. Shields led police on a high-speed chase before being caught. When officers arrested him, he admitted to having a firearm in the car. Investigators later confirmed that Shields was under felony indictment at the time for rape and forcible sodomy charges in Hampton, making his possession of the firearm illegal.
Meanwhile, Jumbo was caught about 50 yards from the scene carrying a black backpack stuffed with around 35 pieces of stolen mail. The third suspect escaped on foot, ditched his jacket—which contained the arrow key—and then carjacked a vehicle to get away.
The Scope of the Theft
In total, the conspirators stole at least 82 pieces of outgoing mail, including at least 10 checks.
Jumbo pleaded guilty to mail theft on November 15, 2024. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on May 21, facing up to five years in prison.
Shields, now awaiting sentencing on June 13, faces up to 15 years behind bars. However, actual sentences are often less than the maximum, as federal judges consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.