A human smuggler from Casa Grande, Alejandro Nathaniel Rodriguez Stalter, was sentenced his week to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer and one count of Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.
According o the Department of Justice, in August 2020, Stalter fled an immigration checkpoint at a high rate of speed with two undocumented noncitizen passengers inside his car. United States Border Patrol (USBP) agents pursued Stalter for approximately 20 miles until his vehicle collided with a stationary object. Once the vehicle was disabled, a USBP agent approached the vehicle, identified himself as a law enforcement agent and tried to open Stalter’s door. As he tried to open the car door, Stalter shot at the agent through the driver’s side window with an AR-15 rifle.
The agent took cover, returned fire, and injured Stalter, who ultimately surrendered.