ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In a shocking turn of events, a man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for impersonating a Border Patrol agent. James Christopher Benvie, 45, was handed down the sentence on October 15 in Las Cruces.
The guilty verdict was delivered on March 3, after a federal jury found Benvie guilty of two counts of false personification of a Border Patrol agent. Benvie was the leader and spokesperson for a group of vigilantes who set up a "camp" at the Southwest border in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.
The group, which was known for wearing badges, camouflage, and carrying pistols and assault rifles, often covered their faces with masks. Benvie misrepresented himself as a Border Patrol agent when stopping immigrants he suspected of crossing into the United States illegally.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Benvie and other group members stopped six women and children from El Salvador on April 15, 2019, without any legitimate law enforcement authority. Benvie interrogated the immigrants before turning them over to actual Border Patrol agents.
On April 17, 2019, Benvie stopped four adults and three children shortly after they crossed the border. Benvie ordered these immigrants to "stop" while misrepresenting himself as "Border Patrol." He later directed these immigrants to move toward the truck of another group member for further interrogation before eventually turning them over to Border Patrol.
Upon his release from prison, Benvie will be subject to one year of supervised release. The FBI and U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuting the case.
The sentencing of James Christopher Benvie serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of vigilantism and the importance of respecting the authority of law enforcement. This case highlights the need for accountability and the consequences of impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Defendant: James Christopher Benvie
Criminal Charges: Two counts of false personification of a Border Patrol agent
City and State: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Date: October 15, 2023 (sentencing)
Sentence: 21 months in prison
Dollar Amounts: None
Category: Violent Crime
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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