FRANKFORT, Ky. – In a dramatic turn of events in the battle against illegal immigration, Xochitl Sonia Navarro, 45, of Lexington, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on Wednesday for her role in aiding a fugitive’s escape. Navarro faced charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers during their duties.
The incident unfolded on October 8, 2024, when ICE-ERO officers launched an operation to apprehend Jorge Iban Cuellar-Avendano, a Mexican national who had illegal re-entered the United States. The fugitive was known for his previous attempt to evade capture by driving off in a vehicle.
Navarro, identified as the driver, attempted a daring escape when officers approached their vehicle. She ignored their orders and instead lunged at them, accelerating away while three federal officers sustained injuries. One officer was knocked to the ground and dragged, suffering deep lacerations on both arms. The situation escalated when the officers had no choice but to break the vehicle’s window to subdue it.
Under federal law, Navarro is required to serve 85 percent of her sentence before being released, followed by three years of supervision under the U.S. Probation Office. Separately, Cuellar-Avendano was handed a 12-month prison term for illegal reentry after deportation and will face immediate deportation following his release.
The sentence was jointly announced by Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Sam Olson, Director of ICE-ERO Chicago Field Office. The investigation was led by ICE-ERO, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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