Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN JOSE – A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Richard Tillman with the federal crime of malicious destruction by fire of a U.S. post office in San Jose. Tillman made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose today.
According to the criminal complaint, in the early hours of July 20, 2025, Tillman, 44, set fire to the Almaden Valley United States Post Office located on Crown Boulevard in San Jose. Tillman allegedly purchased “instalogs” and lighter fluid and drove to the U.S. post office. The complaint describes that Tillman then placed the instalogs throughout his vehicle, poured lighter fluid over the instalogs, backed his vehicle into the lobby of the U.S. post office, exited the vehicle, and lit the vehicle on fire with a match.
Tillman then allegedly began spray painting the words “Viva La Me” on the outside of the building after starting the fire, but did not finish the graffiti because the heat from the fire was too intense.
The Almaden Valley United States Post Office was partially destroyed by the fire, as depicted below:
The San Jose Fire Department and the San Jose Police Department responded to the fire. Tillman allegedly told law enforcement officers that he set the fire to make a statement to the U.S. government and that he livestreamed the event on YouTube using his phone.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Tillman is currently in federal custody. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Aug. 6, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.
A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 for the charge of malicious destruction of government property by fire in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(1). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USPIS, ATF, FBI, and the San Jose Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.