St. Louis, MO -Dywane Upchurch, 39, of St. Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to felony charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and assaulting a Postal employee while committing robbery. Upchurch appeared in federal court today before United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for Jan. 16, 2019.
According to court documents, on December 6, 2018, Dywane Upchurch entered the rear door of the U.S. Post Office in Richmond Heights located on Big Bend Boulevard. He was armed with a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol. Once inside, Upchurch brandished the firearm and forced both employees into a restroom. Upchurch then went to the cash register and stole approximately $8,800 in cash.
On Jan. 17, 2019, Upchurch was taken into custody after United States Postal Inspectors executed an arrest warrant at a residence on Blakemore Place, St. Louis, Missouri. A firearm possessed by Upchurch was seized from the residence.
Upchurch faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the charge of felon in possession of a firearm and up to 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on the assault count. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond Heights Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware is handling the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
