19-Year-Old Providence Man Admits in Federal Court He Assaulted Postal Worker

19-Year-Old Providence Man Admits in Federal Court He Assaulted Postal Worker

The United State Attorney’s office announced that a 19-year-old Providence man admitted to a federal judge on Tuesday that he was one of two men who assaulted a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in November 2021 while the carrier was delivering mail.

According to information presented to the court, Ismael Colon Pena was one of two men seated inside a BMW sedan that had stopped on a narrow South Providence street that was only wide enough to allow one vehicle to pass at a time.  As the postal driver maneuvered his truck past the stopped BMW, the postman reportedly smiled at the car’s driver in acknowledgment of the brief awkwardness.

This was not the end of the interaction, however, as a short time later, when the letter carrier returned to his truck after delivering a package, he was allegedly met by the driver of the BMW, Branly Ferreras-Severino, 22, of Providence.

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As alleged in court documents, Ferreras-Severino reportedly said, “You think it’s funny? You almost hit me. You wanna get popped?” before striking the letter carrier with his fists. Colon admitted to the court that he also assaulted the postal employee with his fist.

Colon pleaded guilty to a charge of assault of a federal employee. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2023.  Ferreras-Severino, charged similarly, is awaiting trial.

The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee.