A San Jose man faces serious charges after a federal grand jury indicted him for the robbery and vicious assault of a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier. Identified as Robert Cordova, also known as Robert Cordona, the 49-year-old suspect was arrested after initially being charged on Jan. 15, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The indictment was handed down a week later, on Jan. 23.
The incident occurred late last year on Nov. 22, 2024, when a USPS letter carrier, busy sorting parcels in San Jose's intersection of Taylor Street and 13th Street, sensed his mail truck shake. When confronted by the postal worker, Cordova allegedly punched him in the face and escalated the attack to further violence, according to the complaint. The victim sustained significant injuries, including a broken nose and fractured left orbital socket. Not long after the alleged assault, San Jose Police Department officers discovered Cordova hiding in a nearby backyard.
Authorities informed that Cordova, following the arrest, has been identified by the injured letter carrier as his assailant. His next court appearance is slated for Feb. 6, where he will face a detention hearing. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, Ismail J. Ramsey, and USPIS San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood shared details of the case.
If Cordova is convicted, the penalties are severe: a maximum of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the mail carrier robbery, plus up to 20 years and an additional $250,000 fine for assaulting a federal employee. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal C. Hong is leading the prosecution with help from Lynette Dixon.
