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Border Patrol Agent Assaulted, Woman Charged
A 24-year-old Mexican national has been charged with physically assaulting a Border Patrol agent who was attempting to restrain her, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.
Maribel Tejeda-Fomperosa, the accused, is set to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya this morning.
‘In the last few months, we have seen the amount of incidents of aggression against our agents rise,’ said Chief Patrol Agent Manuel Padilla Jr. ‘Assaults against our agents are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.’
According to the criminal complaint, Tejeda-Fomperosa physically assaulted a BP agent and also spit on a second agent on Oct. 24, 2016. The incident occurred after she was arrested for allegedly making an illegal entry into the United States by wading across the Rio Grande River near Brownsville.
The agents arrested Tejeda-Fomperosa after she allegedly made an illegal entry into the United States, and she was placed in a holding cell following her arrest. However, she became physically and verbally aggressive, resulting in her physically assaulting a BP agent attempting to restrain her and spitting at a second agent.
Tejeda-Fomperosa now faces a possible sentence of up to eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine if she is convicted.
The FBI conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Border Patrol agents work tirelessly to protect our nation’s borders, and it is unacceptable for agents to face physical aggression while performing their duties. We will continue to work with state and federal prosecutors to ensure the safety of our agents while in the field and in operational settings.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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