- Antrell Jermaine Hillard received a 12-year federal prison sentence for conspiracy and theft of postal keys, postal robbery, and assault in Florida.
- Hillard will face three years of supervised release after prison and was convicted following investigations by the Postal Inspection Service, FBI and local law enforcement.
A Live Oak man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to steal postal keys, theft of postal keys, and postal robbery and assault.
According to a Northern District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office press release sent on Monday, court documents show that between March 21 and March 29, 2025, Antrell Jermaine Hillard, 33, conspired with others to steal U.S. Postal Service keys in Gainesville and Ocala. Hillard planned and participated in three separate incidents involving the theft of keys directly from Postal Service carriers while they were delivering mail.
In one incident, Hillard snatched a postal key that was physically attached to a carrier’s belt, causing the key to break away from the belt.
The court also found that shortly before the postal robberies, Hillard held a man at gunpoint during an armed robbery of a Gainesville convenience store.
“This serial, violent felon has shown that the only way we can keep our communities safe from his criminality is by keeping him behind bars in federal prison, so that is exactly what we will do,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John P. Heekin in the release. “I appreciate the excellent investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office that supported this successful prosecution. The Department of Justice launched Operation Take Back America to devote our full might toward removing the perpetrators of violent crime from our streets, and my office will continue to deliver aggressive prosecutions like this to accomplish that task.”
Bladismir Rojo, inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division, said the sentence should serve as a warning to those who target postal employees.
“This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who is considering committing a violent crime against a U.S. Postal Service employee,” said Rojo in the release. “The Inspection Service will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that those who choose to engage in these types of crimes will be held accountable.”
FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley said the sentence holds Hillard accountable for his conduct and demonstrates the importance of law enforcement cooperation.
“This sentence holds Hillard accountable for his actions and serves as a reminder to those who choose to commit serious crimes,” said Carley in the release. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue working together to investigate and pursue dangerous offenders who threaten our communities.”
Upon his release from prison, Hillard will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated jointly by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain prosecuted the case.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative that marshals federal resources to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect communities from perpetrators of violent crime.