EL PASO, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 46 months in prison for three counts of assault on a federal officer.
According to court documents, Carlos Ernesto Guerrero-Gutierrez was being detained in a pod of 20 individuals at an El Paso processing center in November 2023. Guerrero-Gutierrez became disruptive and was placed in a separate isolation pod where he dismantled the pod’s frame, removing a wooden board with nails on it. When U.S. Border Patrol agents responded, Guerrero-Gutierrez bit one agent on the leg and injured two others using the board with nails. One of the agents was hit in the head, causing him to bleed above the temple and another agent bled from his hand after being stabbed in the thumb with a nail. Guerrero-Gutierrez was ultimately subdued after two taser deployment attempts, cuffed and restrained. He pleaded guilty to three counts of assault on a federal officer May 6, 2024.
“Our Border Patrol partners place their lives on the line daily in defense of the United States and the integrity of our border,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “We take these violations seriously and will vigorously prosecute violent individuals who assault those who work tirelessly to protect us and our communities.”
“This conviction serves as a clear message—any individual who attempts to harm a federal officer will face swift and decisive action. These assaults will not be tolerated. Those who engage in such violence will be held fully accountable under the law,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar. “We are grateful for the unwavering support from our law enforcement partners and the justice system in ensuring that those who threaten the safety of our agents face the consequences of their actions.”
"The El Paso FBI stands firmly with our U.S. Border Patrol partners as well as with all law enforcement officers who work tirelessly, day in and day out, to protect our borders and our communities,” said El Paso FBI Special Agent in Charge John Morales. "Any assault on these dedicated, brave men and women will not be tolerated and will be swiftly investigated. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers they face in their mission to keep our nation safe, and this sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting and partnering with law enforcement at all levels to uphold public safety."
The FBI and USBP investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stanley Serwatka prosecuted the case.
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