June 3, 2026 – SAN JOSE, CA – Robert Cordova, also known as Robert Cordona, was sentenced on 
Tuesday to 129 months in federal prison for robbing and assaulting a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier. U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman handed down the sentence.
Cordova, 51, of San Jose, was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 23, 2025, on charges of federal robbery and assault. He pleaded guilty to both counts of the indictment on March 31, 2026. According to the plea agreement, Cordova admitted that he went inside a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail truck with the intent to steal mail. A USPS letter carrier approached him as Cordova was taking mail. Cordova punched the letter carrier in the face, knocking him to the ground. Cordova then got on top of the letter carrier and continued to punch him several times in the face and head.
According to court documents, the letter carrier sustained a broken nose, a fractured orbital socket, and had a permanent metal plate placed inside of his face due to his injuries. Judge Freeman found that Cordova qualified as career offender under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Related: San Jose Man Charged with Robbery and Vicious Assault of a U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier
“Today’s sentence underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting federal employees who serve the public every day. Anyone who attacks postal workers—or any public servant—will be held fully accountable,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime committed in this case. Hardworking people come into your neighborhoods to deliver mail, they deserve respect and protection,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood. “Postal inspectors will not relent from bringing anyone who harms a postal worker to justice. I want to thank the San Jose Police Department for their excellent response and teamwork and the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney's Office for their determination in prosecuting this case.”
The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service for transport to the Bureau of Prisons. In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman sentenced Cordova to a 3-year period of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal C. Hong is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by USPIS and the San Jose Police Department.
Source: DOJ Release
