Richard Tillman, the brother of the late Pat Tillman, an NFL star turned Army Ranger, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for setting fire to a San Jose post office last July.
U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila handed down the sentence to the 45-year-old Tillman, of San Jose, who had pleaded guilty in February to one count of malicious destruction of government property by fire.
According to the plea agreement, Tillman admitted to intentionally setting fire to the Almaden Valley Post Office at 6525 Crown Boulevard in San Jose on July 20, 2025.
Tillman admitted that he intentionally set the fire in order to “make a point to the United States government.”
In preparation for the fire, Tillman purchased firelogs and lighter fluid. He then drove to the post office with firelogs in his vehicle, backed the vehicle through the building’s front door, exited the vehicle, spread lighter fluid throughout the vehicle, threw a lit match into the vehicle, and exited the building.
The fire quickly spread from the vehicle to the post office, completely destroying its lobby, as depicted in the photographs below. Prior to July 20, 2025, the lobby of the Post Office was open to the public during business hours for retail transactions and access to post office boxes. The fire rendered the lobby unusable, and it has not been available to the public since.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge John Wester, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement in a joint statement.
In addition to the prison term, Davila also sentenced Tillman to a three-year period of supervised release, and ordered Tillman to pay restitution of $2,371,682 to the United States Postal Service. The defendant began serving his sentence immediately after his sentencing.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USPIS, ATF, FBI, and the San Jose Police Department.
