Jody Harris, a 33-year-old resident of Orleans Parish, was sentenced on March 10 to 144 months in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting a United States Postal Service employee and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
The case underscores the serious consequences for violent crimes against federal employees and highlights law enforcement efforts to protect public servants. Harris will also serve three years of supervised release and pay a mandatory $200 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on December 16, 2024, when Harris approached a USPS letter carrier delivering mail in the 8400 block of Forshey Street. Harris brandished a Beretta Model APX handgun after removing it from his black cross body bag and threatened the victim while demanding all his possessions. The victim surrendered USPS vehicle keys, mail scanner, and satchel containing mail. Harris then took the USPS Arrow key used by employees to access blue collection boxes.
A GPS-enabled mail scanner stolen during the robbery was later tracked by investigators to another location on Forshey Street. New Orleans Police Department officers obtained search warrants for two residences connected with Harris, recovering postal property including vehicle keys and an Arrow Key at one address along with drugs at another location where they seized marijuana, Xanax, crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and additional stolen items.
Harris had previously been convicted of a felony in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle said he praised “the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter.” Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Katherine Kaufman from the General Crimes Unit; Alexandra Giavotella from Public Corruption; and Gregory M. Kennedy from Violent Crimes handled prosecution duties.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aiming to address illegal immigration issues as well as eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts involving Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood.
