A couple in Los Angeles, California, were arrested by federal agents on Wednesday for driving into oncoming traffic in an attempt to ram Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who were executing arrest warrants on several residences containing illegal aliens.
Gustavo Torres, 28, and Kiara Jaime-Flores, 34, have been charged with conspiracy to impede or injure officers.
“These defendants are charged with knowingly and recklessly putting federal agents’ lives in danger,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Anyone who deliberately gets in the way of immigration officers doing their job will face criminal prosecution and the prospect of doing time in a federal prison cell.”
The incident occurred on February 28, while Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and United States Border Patrol agents were executing four search warrants at separate residences in Los Angeles. As they were working, a hostile crowd gathered and began shouting at the officers, who eventually drove off.
“At the intersection of 61st Street and Broadway in South Los Angeles, Torres and Flores – driving a Honda Fit – allegedly pulled in front of one of the government vehicles and blocked its pathway at the intersection,” the Department of Justice said in a press release.
“The defendants also drove westbound on 61st Street in an opposing lane, passing another two government vehicles. The defendants allegedly pulled in front of one of the vehicles and slammed on the brakes, which the agents believed was an attempt to cause a collision.”
The DOJ explained that the couple “aggressively” followed one of the vehicles for two miles and attempted to cross multiple lanes of traffic to stay on their tail.
Torres and Flores will each face a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison if convicted.
