San Jose Post Office Torched: Tillman Faces Arson Charges

SAN JOSE, CA – A brazen act of arson left the Almaden Valley United States Post Office in ruins last week, and now Richard Tillman, 44, is facing the music. Federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal complaint today charging Tillman with malicious destruction by fire, a federal offense that carries a hefty prison sentence.

According to court documents, Tillman allegedly drove to the post office on Crown Boulevard in the early hours of July 20, 2025, armed with “instalogs” and lighter fluid. He then backed his vehicle directly into the lobby, doused the instalogs with accelerant, and ignited them with a match. The resulting fire caused significant damage to the building.

But the destruction wasn’t enough. The complaint details that Tillman, while the post office burned, attempted to spray-paint the words “Viva La Me” on the exterior of the building. He abandoned the graffiti effort, however, citing the intense heat. Sources close to the investigation confirm the San Jose Fire Department and San Jose Police Department were quick to respond, but not before substantial damage was done.

Law enforcement officials say Tillman readily admitted to setting the fire, claiming he wanted to make a “statement to the U.S. government.” Disturbingly, he allegedly livestreamed the entire incident on YouTube using his phone. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) all contributed to the investigation.

U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian, alongside Inspectors in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood (USPIS), Robert Topper (ATF), and Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani (FBI), announced the charges. Tillman remains in federal custody and is scheduled to appear in court on August 6, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins for a status conference. He faces a potential sentence of between five and twenty years imprisonment, plus a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(1).

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael G. Pitman and Sahib Kaur are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is the result of a collaborative effort between the USPIS, ATF, FBI, San Jose Police Department, and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Remember, a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and Tillman is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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