Rubin David Adams, a 28-year-old Minneapolis resident, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for robbing postal workers at gunpoint in Edina and Brooklyn Center as part of a broader plan to steal mail and commit check fraud.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud in St. Paul. In addition to the prison term, Adams will serve five years of supervised release and pay $78,000 in restitution.
“The United States Postal Service is a vital institution,” Judge Tostrud said during sentencing. “People will stop trusting the mail if they believe it will be stolen.”
Two-Day Robbery Spree
According to court documents, Adams and an accomplice began their crime spree on November 18, 2023, by confronting a postal worker in Edina. The armed accomplice demanded the mailbox key, but when the worker had none, they stole two sets of USPS vehicle keys.
The next day, Adams himself committed another robbery in Brooklyn Center, this time successfully stealing two USPS mailbox keys. These keys gave Adams access to dozens of collection boxes throughout the Twin Cities, allowing him to steal mail and commit financial crimes.
Check Fraud Scheme and Arrest
Adams used the stolen mail to forge checks, creating a complex check fraud scheme. Just days after the second robbery, Adams was seen in a Facebook video flashing 15 stolen checks.
Investigators traced the crimes back to Adams using surveillance footage and license plate readers. He was arrested on November 29, 2023.
At the time, Adams was already on pretrial release for identity theft charges in Georgia, and on probation for multiple offenses including:
Receiving stolen property
Possession of a firearm by a felon
Possession of a firearm during a felony
Six misdemeanor charges
Federal Authorities Respond
“Serious crimes demand serious federal time,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson. “Adams went on a two-day crime spree and, for that, will spend a decade in federal prison.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and local law enforcement cooperated in bringing Adams to justice, emphasizing the federal government’s commitment to protecting mail carriers and the integrity of the postal system.
