By Brett Callwood
The U.S. attorney’s office released a statement on March 3, reporting that Gardena man John Leomen Ross, 40 was sentenced to “41 months in federal prison for assaulting a United States Postal Service (USPS) employee last year.”
Ross was given the sentenced by United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer, after Ross pleaded guilty in November 2024 to “one count of assault on a federal employee resulting in bodily injury.”
“The defendant here violently attacked a postal employee who was hard at work doing his job,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their work helping obtain a prison sentence for this defendant.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s top priority is the safety of our postal employees,” said Matt Shields, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division. “These dedicated letter carriers serve our communities daily, ensuring reliable mail delivery while facing various challenges on their routes. We remain committed to protecting the well-being of these carriers and holding accountable anyone who threatens their livelihood. No one should have to fear for their safety while performing their job.”
The incident took place on February 21, 2024. The postal worker was delivering mail in Gardena, when Ross stopped him. “According to the victim, Ross yelled at him and was upset he didn’t get a package he felt he was supposed to have already received,” the release states. “Ross asked the employee to deliver his mail to a particular Gardena residence where he was allegedly squatting.Surveillance video from a home security system show the USPS employee turning away from Ross and attempting to walk away to continue his postal route. Without warning, Ross then hit the USPS employee on the back of the head, hit him in the eye, and then body slammed the USPS employee to the ground.”
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua J. Lee of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
