Providence man sentenced for assault, robbery of mailman, drug trafficking

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence man was sentenced to prison in connection with the assault and robbery of a mailman, along with drug trafficking.

United States Attorney Zachary Cunha announced that 31-year-old Juan Bautista Rosario-Sandoval was convicted after admitting he and another person assaulted and robbed a U.S. mail carrier in 2021.

Court records show Rosario-Sandoval said he and an accomplice conspired to forcibly take a Priority Mail Express Parcel addressed for delivery to a Providence address on Sept. 18, 2021.

After the postal carrier refused to hand over the package, the men opened the doors to the mail van, punched the carrier, then fled with the package.

Cunha said Rosario-Sandoval also admitted to receiving multiple packages of cocaine delivered through the U.S. Mail to addresses in Providence.

He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to assault and rob a U.S. mail carrier and conspiracy to possess more than 500 grams of cocaine on Dec. 23, 2023.

Cunha said Rosario-Sandoval was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and will face immigration proceedings upon completion of his sentence.