PITTSBURGH, Pa. – In a gritty assault case involving a federal officer, Juan Jose Antuche-Garcia, 33, of Guatemala, has been handed down a sentence for his brazen attack on law enforcement.
The defendant, who was illegally residing in the United States, pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal law enforcement officer. On September 15, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed a sentence of time served.
Antuche-Garcia’s criminal odyssey began on September 3, 2023, when he sneaked into the U.S., later skipping his immigration court date in May 2024. His removal from the country was ordered by an immigration judge after his failure to appear.
The defendant met his fate head-on during a high-speed encounter with federal law enforcement on August 12, 2025. The scene unfolded when officers attempted to pull over the vehicle Antuche-Garcia was riding in. Instead of stopping, the driver rammed into an officer’s car, pinning an officer’s leg. Antuche-Garcia, as a front passenger, tried to flee by repeatedly opening his door, causing further injury to the officer.
Antuche-Garcia has been held in custody since his arrest and awaits removal from the United States. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted the case with tenacity.
Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti praised U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their efforts in this case. It is part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative aimed at dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
RELATED: Guatemalan Citizen Juan Jose Antuche-Garcia Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Officer
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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