Virginia Beach men sentenced to prison for armed robbery

RICHMOND, Va. - Two Virginia Beach men were sentenced to prison for the armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier.

According to court documents, on July 7, 2023, Deangelo Raquan Martin Harris, 22, and Demarih Lockhart, 22, traveled to Limerick Drive in Richmond to rob a mail carrier of a key that would allow them to access USPS collection boxes. As the mail carrier returned to her truck after making a delivery, Lockhart approached her wearing a ski mask and pointed a handgun at her. Lockhart demanded her key, which she provided along with her mail scanner. Lockhart fled on foot, discarding the mail scanner, and returned to the vehicle where Harris was waiting. Lockhart and Harris then fled the scene.

The vehicle, which they borrowed from Ricky Damion Christopher Jones Jr., of New York, had been stolen out of Fort Worth, Texas. Moments after the robbery, as they were still fleeing, Lockhart used Harris's cellphone to take a photograph of the stolen key and sent it to Chanz Lamarion Pough, of Frederick, Maryland. Jones and Pough paid Lockhart and Harris for committing the robbery.

Lockhart pled guilty July 7 to interfering with commerce by threats or violence and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced Nov. 5 to 10 years in prison.

Harris pled guilty June 24 to interfering with commerce by threats or violence and was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison.

Jones and Pough were convicted in a separate case. On Sept. 4, 2024, Jones pled guilty to use of a firearm during a crime of violence and conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Jones was sentenced March 26, 2025, to 19 years in prison. On Sept. 23, 2024, Pough pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Pough was sentenced on Feb. 13, 2025, to two years and six months in prison.

Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted the case.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District CourtLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case Nos. 3:26-cr-73 (Lockhart) and 3:26-cr-60 (Harris).