A federal grand jury has indicted a Buffalo man accused of attacking a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier while the carrier was delivering mail.
Prosecutors identified the defendant as Jacob D. Ortiz, 34, of Buffalo, who faces a federal charge of assaulting a federal employee.
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo said the charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, the incident happened Sept. 9 on Columbus Avenue in South Buffalo. A USPS letter carrier, dressed in full uniform, approached a mailbox at a residence when Ortiz exited the home.
Authorities said the carrier believed Ortiz was a resident coming to collect mail. Instead, prosecutors allege Ortiz lunged at the carrier without warning and began punching him in the face and head.
The letter carrier suffered cuts, bumps, and bruises to his face, behind his left ear, on the back of his head, on his left elbow, and below his right knee.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division.
Federal officials stressed that the indictment is an accusation. Ortiz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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