Greenville, SC — A federal grand jury has charged Kenneth David Sipple, 58, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, with assaulting a federal employee — a violent act that struck at the heart of federal authority on home soil. The one-count indictment, returned in federal court in Greenville, alleges Sipple attacked a uniformed officer, triggering a swift response from federal investigators.
The charge, filed under Title 18, United States Code, Section 111, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors are not mincing words: this is not a minor scuffle. The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service led the investigation, underscoring the seriousness of threats against federal personnel.
Sipple now faces the full weight of the federal justice system. The case has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens in the Greenville office, who is known for aggressive prosecution of violent federal offenses. Court records do not yet detail the circumstances of the assault, but sources confirm the incident involved physical confrontation with an on-duty agent.
In a separate but related sweep, federal prosecutors unsealed indictments against two undocumented immigrants on re-entry charges. Jorge Luis Silva-Aguiar, 44, and Jose Pineda-Flores, 47, were each charged under Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326. Both face up to 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000, depending on criminal history. DHS agents handled the investigation, with AUSA Max Cauthen leading prosecution.
Adding to the docket, Fermin Jimenez-Virelas, 38, was hit with a two-count indictment for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and using a fraudulent Social Security number. Charged under Title 18 U.S.C. Section 911 and Title 42 U.S.C. Section 408(a)(7)(B), Jimenez-Virelas could serve up to 5 years and pay a $250,000 fine. ICE-Homeland Security Investigations ran the probe, and AUSA Max Cauthen is again handling the case.
United States Attorney Beth Drake emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. But the message from the Greenville federal courthouse is clear: federal lines were crossed, and the indictments signal zero tolerance. These cases, rooted in violence, deception, and re-entry, reflect a broader crackdown on federal law violations in Upstate South Carolina.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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