Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that three defendants were arraigned on multiple counts of robbery for allegedly displaying a handgun to United States Postal Service (“USPS”) mail carriers in Hempstead and Queens in February and March 2023 and stealing keys used to open collection boxes and parcel lockers.
Kimora Dupree, 20, of Elmont, Melajah Taffe, a/k/a Melly, 22, of Valley Stream, were each arraigned before Judge Tammy Robbins on two counts of Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony) and two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The defendants pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond, and $100,000 partially secured bond. Dupree is due back in court on January 8, 2024. Taffe is due back in court on January 12, 2024.
An additional juvenile offender was arraigned yesterday before Judge Helene Gugerty on two counts of Robbery in the First Degree and two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree. The defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded.
“These individuals allegedly targeted mail carriers in Hempstead and Queens on their daily routes, stole multiple keys, and tried to sell them on the internet,” DA Donnelly said. “Across the country, hardworking mail carriers are contending with an increase in threats of violence for their postal keys, which open secure mail collection boxes. We will not allow Nassau County’s dedicated mail carriers to be victimized. We are grateful to our partners at the United States Postal Inspection Service for their assistance in this prosecution.”
USPIS New York Division Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said, “Our top priority is the safety and security of our dedicated employees, and anyone that threatens or harms them will have to answer to Postal Inspectors. These arrests of multiple suspects responsible for a string of USPS carrier robberies are a testament to the tenacity of our postal inspectors, and speak to the great relationship sustained with the Nassau County Police Department to bring them to justice.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the indictment, on February 22, 2023, at approximately 3:36 p.m., a USPS mail carrier was walking up to a home in Hempstead when the juvenile defendant allegedly approached the victim from behind and displayed a handgun and demanded that the postal employee hand over his keys.
The juvenile defendant allegedly forcibly ripped the keys from the postal employee’s belt and ran into a vehicle driven by defendant Melajah Taffe.
On March 22, 2023, at approximately 2:18 p.m., in Whitestone, Queens, the juvenile defendant allegedly approached another postal carrier, displayed a handgun, and stole the employee’s keys. The juvenile defendant and Taffe allegedly brought the key back to Nassau County with the intent to use it unlawfully.
In both incidents, Kimora Dupree allegedly sent Instagram messages to identify drivers for the robberies and posted the keys on Instagram to sell them.
The items taken by the defendants included a mail truck key, and two other postal keys, which open all the mailboxes, collection boxes, parcel lockers, and other USPS property along the mail carrier’s route.
Dupree surrendered in Williston Park to members of the Nassau County Police Department on November 1, 2023.
Taffe was arrested in Valley Stream by members of the NCPD on October 10, 2023.
The juvenile offender was arrested in Virginia by local authorities on October 25, 2023, and extradited to Nassau County on November 27, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Michelle Lewisohn of the Homicide Bureau. Taffe is represented by Marc Silverman, Esq. Dupree is represented by Marc Gann, Esq.
The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.