8/27/25 – Brian Hindman, 49, of Madera, was arrested today on criminal complaint for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court records, on July 25, 2025, as Hindman pulled into a casino parking lot, law enforcement officers arrested him for an outstanding state warrant for burglary. Hindman was found with a loaded 9 mm Ruger pistol that he was prohibited from possessing due to several prior felony convictions for which he spent over four years in state prison. Hindman was also found with six counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys that are commonly used by thieves to steal mail, and several driver’s licenses and debit cards in other people’s names.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Hindman faces maximum penalties of 15 years in prison for the gun charge and 10 years in prison for the possession of counterfeit USPS keys charge. He also faces up to a 250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.