Newport News, Va. – O’Sirus Charles Landres Ford, a 22-year-old from Chesapeake, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to rob U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers at gunpoint for their “arrow keys.” These keys are highly prized by criminals for accessing mailboxes, which enables various fraud schemes.
According to court documents, Ford was part of a social media group known as “Three Keys,” which conspired to steal these master keys. Members of the group used the keys to access blue collection boxes, parcel lockers, and apartment mailbox panels, facilitating crimes like bank fraud and identity theft. The group discussed robbery strategies, including selecting targets, using firearms, and avoiding law enforcement.
On May 8, 2023, Ford and his co-conspirators rented a car through Turo to commit the robberies. Ford recruited two individuals, including a minor, to help him. After conducting reconnaissance in Hampton, they targeted a mail carrier in Norfolk. The minor brandished a firearm and robbed the carrier of his arrow key and USPS identification card before fleeing the scene.
The following day, Ford attempted another robbery with Jayden Stukes, 21, of Suffolk, and Da’Twan Watson, 24, of Chesapeake. Unable to access the rental car used the previous day, Stukes arranged for another friend to drive them. Armed and masked, the group crossed Hampton Roads and targeted a mail carrier in Hampton. Ford, armed with a gun, threatened the carrier and obtained the arrow key.
Ford pleaded guilty on December 21, 2023, to conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and using a firearm during a violent crime. Watson and Stukes also pleaded guilty to related charges and were sentenced to four years in prison each.