SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Gabriel Omar Gigena, 42, of Valley Springs, California, will spend the next 15 months behind bars after being sentenced today for a brazen attack on a U.S. Marshal. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart handed down the sentence, along with three years of supervised release, after a federal jury convicted Gigena in April 2025.
The incident unfolded on May 4, 2024, in a Park City, Utah park. Task force officers with the United States Marshal Service (USMS) were attempting to apprehend Gigena and secure his twin three-year-old daughters. The situation escalated rapidly, forcing officers to move in quickly, tackling Gigena in an attempt to ensure the safety of the children and the public. As officers attempted to move Gigena’s hands away from the girls, a violent struggle ensued.
According to court documents, during the takedown, Gigena locked one of the officers in a chokehold, actively attempting to strangle him. The officer, struggling to breathe, fought back while attempting to protect the young children. The attack highlights the constant danger faced by law enforcement in the line of duty. A previous press release detailing the initial charges can be found here.
“Gigena is a danger to the public and to law enforcement across the country,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has zero tolerance to those who threaten public servants. Gigena engaged in very serious and violent conduct against a law enforcement officer, and that is unacceptable. No one is above the law, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute crimes of this nature.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Kelly of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office echoed Viti’s sentiment. “This case is a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement faces every day in service to our community,” Kelly said. “Violence against civil servants will not be tolerated. The FBI is committed to ensuring justice is served.” The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office spearheaded the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sam Pead and J. Drew Yeates of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah successfully prosecuted the case. This prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive program dedicated to reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve. More information on PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN. Gigena’s sentence sends a clear message: assaulting a federal officer will not be tolerated.
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Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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