An Armenian man, previously living in Los Angeles, has been handed a prison sentence of over three years for a violent attack on a federal immigration officer. Arsen Tonoyan, 48, was sentenced to three years and five months behind bars and is also required to pay restitution amounting to $1,000, as confirmed by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Details provided by court documents revealed that on March 7, 2022, Tonoyan assaulted the detention officer at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Golden State Annex in Kern County. The altercation escalated when Tonoyan punched the federal employee multiple times, executed a chokehold, and took the officer to the ground. As a consequence of the incident, the officer sustained a variety of injuries, including a concussion and back problems that necessitated immediate medical attention, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
This legal action stems from an investigation spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case against Tonoyan received its prosecutorial force from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Cody Chapple, who took it upon themselves to navigate the complex waters of this federal offense.
