Honduran Man Assaults on ICE Officer, Federal Grand Jury Charges with Two Federal Crimes

Prosecutors on May 28 reported that a Honduran man accused of ramming a federal vehicle during an immigration enforcement stop has been put on trial on two federal charges that carry possible prison sentences of up to 18 years combined.

A federal grand jury has charged 21-year-old Jairo Yoel Montoya-Amador with assaulting a federal officer and damaging government property in connection with a May 14 accident. It involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, according to U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

Investigators said federal officers attempted to stop the vehicle Montoya-Amador was driving and used a box-in manoeuvre to prevent him from leaving. Authorities allege Montoya-Amador tried to force his way out by ramming a pickup truck occupied by a U.S. deportation officer.

The officer was performing official duties during the encounter and federal authorities also alleged that the crash caused more than $1,000 in damage to a Department of Homeland Security vehicle.

The indictment, filed on May 22 has charged Montoya-Amador under federal laws covering assault against a federal officer and destruction of government property.

If convicted on the assault charge, Montoya-Amador could face a maximum sentence of eight years in prison. The charge also carries up to three years of supervised release and a possible fine of up to $250,000.

The second charge is for damaging government property which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Prosecutors said that count also includes up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Federal law will also assert a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 for each count. Courcelle said the indictment should not be viewed as evidence of guilt.

“An indictment is merely a charge,” Courcelle said in the announcement. He added that prosecutors must prove the allegations against Montoya-Amador beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

Court records identify Montoya-Amador as a Honduran national. Authorities have not released additional details about the traffic stop or said whether anyone suffered injuries during the incident.

The case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, violent crime, and transnational criminal organisations.

According to the Justice Department, the program combines efforts from the Organised Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighbourhoods (PSN) to support federal investigations and prosecutions nationwide.

Courcelle credited Homeland Security Investigations with leading the investigation. Meanwhile, Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution.