Passaic County Man Charged with Attempted Robbery of Two U.S. Postal Service Employees

DOJ Press

NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man was indicted today for assaulting and attempting to rob two U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers in January 2021, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Yeniser Cruz Perez, 20, of Paterson, New Jersey, was charged by indictment with two counts of assault and attempted robbery of persons having control over mail matter and government property. He will be arraigned at a date to be determined.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Jan. 20, 2021, in Wyckoff, New Jersey, Cruz Perez approached Victim 1, a USPS mail carrier and demanded that the victim give him a USPS key that is used to access mail collection boxes and apartment panels. Cruz Perez displayed what appeared to be a firearm.  Cruz Perez fled after learning that Victim 1 did not possess such a key.


Later that day, in Woodland Park, New Jersey, Cruz Perez approached Victim 2, another USPS mail carrier, and again demanded a USPS key. Cruz Perez again pulled what appeared to be a firearm from his clothing. Cruz Perez again fled after learning that Victim 2 did not have the key.


Each count of assault and attempted robbery charged in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero; the Wyckoff Police Department, under the direction of Chief David V. Murphy; and the Woodland Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief John Uzzalino with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Calle of the Health Care Fraud Unit.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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