YOUNGSTOWN - Federal authorities have unsealed an indictment accusing a Youngstown man of robbing a letter carrier to steal a special key used to unlock mailboxes throughout the country.

Thirty-seven-year-old Joseph Grove is suspected of robbing the postal employee on his route along Rush Boulevard and Hilton Street on March 13, according to U.S. Postal Inspector Ian Ortega.

The indictment also alleges Grove attempted to cash a stolen check at a PNC Bank branch the following month.

The mail carrier told police a light-skinned Black man in his mid-30s approached him there and said "Don't die for a key bro,” and showed a gun tucked into his waistband.

The USPS employee believed the man was joking until the man said, "Don't play with me." At that point, the mail carrier put his hands up and told the suspect his keys were inside his van.

Police say the mail carrier opened the van's door and the suspect told him "If you try anything, you're dead." He gave the suspect the collection key which unlocks the street mailboxes.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

Since 2020, there have been more than 2,000 attempted or committed robberies against postal workers nationwide, prompting Congress to consider the bipartisan Protect Our Letter Carriers Act to address the rise of violent crime against mail carriers.

The bill addresses the outdated collection boxes and so-called “arrow keys,” ensures the Department of Justice prosecutes crimes against letter carriers by designating an assistant in every U.S. Attorney's office to supervise the investigation into alleged offenses against letter carriers and amend sentencing guidelines for any assault or robbery committed against a letter carrier.

Grove, who is charged with theft of U.S. property, theft of a postal key, mail theft, and bank fraud, has been in the Mahoning County Jail since April when he was arrested on other charges.

He’s scheduled to be arraigned on federal charges on Tuesday.