⏱ 2 min read
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, Jesus Espinosa, 52, of El Paso, has been charged with deprivation of rights and making false statements after an incident on August 22, 2021, where he allegedly used unreasonable force, including a chokehold, to detain an individual, resulting in bodily injury. The incident occurred in El Paso, Texas, while Espinosa was acting under color of law as a federal law enforcement officer. Espinosa claimed the individual was aggressive and non-compliant, which led to an erroneous official report of assault on a federal officer rather than a true report detailing excessive use of force.
Espinosa was indicted on July 15 and arrested on July 17. He is charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of false statement to a U.S. government agency. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for the deprivation of rights charge and up to five years in prison for the false statement.
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General, and Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Wisniewski is prosecuting the case.
The defendant made his initial court appearance on July 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert F. Castaneda of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Public Corruption
- Defendant: Texas
- Location: TX
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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