Gainesville, Florida – 8/17/26 – Antrell Jermaine Hillard, 33, of Live Oak, Florida, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to steal postal keys, theft of postal keys, and postal robbery/assault. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “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. 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.”
Court documents reflect that between March 21, 2025, and March 29, 2025, the defendant conspired with others to steal Postal Service keys in Gainesville and Ocala. The defendant planned and participated in three separate incidents involving the theft of keys directly from United States Postal Service carriers while they were delivering mail. In one of the incidents, the defendant snatched a key that was still physically connected to the carrier’s belt, causing it to break from the carrier’s belt. The court also found that shortly before the postal robberies, the defendant held a man at gunpoint during an armed robbery of a Gainesville convenience store.
“This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who is considering committing a violent crime against a U.S. Postal Service employee.” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. The Inspection Service will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that those who chose to engage in these types of crimes will be held accountable.”
“This sentence holds Hilliard accountable for his actions and serves as a reminder to those who choose to commit serious crimes,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue working together to investigate and pursue dangerous offenders who threaten our communities.”
Upon his release, Hillard will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The case involved a joint investigation by United States Postal Inspection Service, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
