LOS ANGELES — A Baldwin Park man pleaded guilty Wednesday to robbing two U.S. Postal Service mail carriers at gunpoint, stealing postal keys and later using them to enter apartment complexes and steal mail.
Ruben Baca Lopez, 34, also known as “Monster” and “Loony,” also admitted assaulting two federal officers during his arrest and possessing ammunition loaded inside a ghost gun, according to his plea agreement.
Lopez pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery of U.S. mail, money or other federal property with a dangerous weapon and one count of being a felon and prohibited person in possession of ammunition. He has remained in federal custody since April 22.
In April 2024, Lopez approached a mail carrier sitting inside a USPS delivery truck in front of a Baldwin Park home, according to the plea agreement.
Lopez ordered the carrier to “give him everything” and lifted his shirt to reveal a firearm tucked into his waistband.
He took the carrier’s smartphone, USPS vehicle keys, a USPS-issued key and keys providing access to apartment complexes in the area. During the following weeks
, Lopez used the stolen keys to enter mailbox areas and steal mail throughout Baldwin Park, prosecutors said.
In May 2024, Lopez robbed a second mail carrier who was placing mail into boxes at an apartment complex. Lopez entered the secured area using an apartment key stolen during the first robbery.
He forcibly took the carrier’s cellphone, wallet, smartwatch, USPS identification badge and two USPS-issued keys.
Two weeks later, Lopez assaulted two U.S. Postal Inspection Service inspectors who were attempting to arrest him, according to court documents. He refused commands, fought with both inspectors and injured one of them.
At the time of his arrest, Lopez possessed ammunition loaded in the chamber and magazine of a privately manufactured firearm without a serial number, commonly called a ghost gun.
Lopez was prohibited from possessing ammunition because of his criminal record. His previous convictions include felony domestic violence and false imprisonment convictions in April 2020 and an assault-related conviction in November 2021, all in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
He also was convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence in February 2016.
U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett scheduled sentencing for Dec. 16.
Lopez faces a statutory maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison on each robbery count and up to 15 years on the ammunition charge. Statutory maximums do not necessarily indicate the sentence the court will impose.
🔴 Quick-Fact Checklist
🔴 Defendant: Ruben Baca Lopez, 34, of Baldwin Park
🔴 Aliases: “Monster” and “Loony”
🔴 Plea: Guilty
🔴 Victims: Two USPS mail carriers and two postal inspectors
🔴 Robberies: April and May 2024
🔴 Property stolen: Postal keys, phones, a wallet, a smartwatch and a USPS badge
🔴 Additional conduct: Used stolen keys to enter secured mailbox areas and steal mail
🔴 Weapon: Ghost gun loaded with ammunition
🔴 Custody status: In federal custody since April 22
🔴 Sentencing: Dec. 16 before Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett
🔴 Maximum penalty: 25 years on each robbery count and 15 years on the ammunition count