On June 28, 2022, Esdly Amarilis Gonzalez, 28, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a federal officer. Gonzalez’s co-defendant Nayber Eziquiel Juarez-Mantanic, 24, of Guatemala, previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault on a federal officer.
On February 3, 2022, a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent attempted to conduct an immigration inspection of the vehicle in which Gonzalez and Juarez-Mantanic were passengers. When the agent approached the vehicle and identified himself as a USBP agent in both English and Spanish, Gonzalez and Juarez-Mantanic attempted to run from the vehicle on foot. When the agent tried to detain them, Juarez-Mantanic intentionally struck the agent in the head and shoulders. As the agent was struggling to handcuff Juarez-Mantanic, Gonzalez came up behind them and intentionally struck the agent on his shoulders. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene.
Gonzalez’s sentencing is scheduled for September 7, 2022, before United States District Judge James A. Soto. Juarez-Mantanic’s sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2022, before United States District Judge James A. Soto.