Passaic County man faces possible 10-year prison term after botched robberies of postal workers, according to federal authorities.
man was charged Wednesday with trying to rob two U.S. Postal Service mail carriers in two towns on the same day, federal authorities said.
Yeniser Cruz Perez, 20, of Paterson, was indicted on charges of assault and attempted robbery of persons having control over mail matter and government property, according to New Jersey U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. The separate attempted holdups occurred Jan. 20, according to court documents. Perez first approached a mail carrier in Wyckoff and demanded the worker hand over a postal service key used to open collection boxes and apartment panels.
Perez, who had what appeared to be a gun, fled when he found the mail carrier didn’t have the key, the indictment alleged. Later that day in Woodland Park, Perez again pulled what looked like a firearm on a mail carrier and demanded a USPS key, according to authorities. He also took off when he found the postal employee did not have the key, officials said.Noah Cohen