LOS ANGELES — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - California, Central), published as received.
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has indicted a Paramount man on a federal charge that he threw pieces of cinderblock and injured a Border Patrol officer last June when a protest against immigration enforcement turned into a riot, the Justice Department announced today.
Jacob Daniel Terrazas, 30, of Paramount, is charged with one count of assault on a federal employee by using a deadly and dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury.
Terrazas is scheduled to go to trial on September 23.
“We will not stand by while our brave federal agents and officers get hurt,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “If you injure an official enforcing immigration law, you may serve 20 years in a federal prison cell. It’s just not worth it.”
According to the indictment returned Tuesday and in other court documents previously filed in this case, a protest occurred on June 7 near a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) facility in Paramount and turned violent. Terrazas was one of several individuals who threw hard objects – including cinderblocks and rocks – at federal agents. Terrazas used both a makeshift shield and nearby trees for cover and repeatedly rushed toward the agents to throw remnants of cinderblock at them.
One of the pieces of cinderblock Terrazas threw hit a Border Patrol agent in his left shin, injuring the agent and causing him to bleed. The injured agent removed himself from the front lines to mend his injury but – after realizing he could still walk and stand – returned to the front lines. Another Border Patrol agent was struck by rocks but was uninjured.
Terrazas – who wore a dark beanie and black mask covering the lower half of his face – and other individuals threw rocks at Border Patrol agents for approximately three hours. Law enforcement used less-lethal force pepper bells against Terrazas and other rock throwers. Eventually, law enforcement detained, identified, and arrested Terrazas.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Terrazas would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
HSI is investigating Terrazas.
Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Mackie and Brenda Galván of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
