A Louisiana man found himself in a Texas court facing charges for evading a Border Patrol checkpoint and leading agents on a high-speed chase that reached speeds exceeding 120 mph. According to court documents cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, Benjamin Thomas Mackey was referred to secondary inspection at Sierra Blanca's Border Patrol checkpoint because a canine alerted to his vehicle. The documents further note that Mackey revved up his car and fled after initially switching it off - a move that nearly resulted in an agent being struck.
Mackey's flight continued on I-10 East, weaving through Sierra Blanca and culminating in a crash into a concrete barrier near a gas station. Having to avoid being hit by Mackey's vehicle in a daring game of chicken, an agent sustained a leg injury during the pursuit and subsequently received hospital care. Following the crash, Mackey attempted an escape on foot but was soon apprehended by agents. The Border Patrol agents were able to find 10 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle after apprehending the suspect.
As it stands, Mackey is staring down a possible five-year prison stretch if convicted for the singular count of high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. Per the announcement from U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons, a sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge in light of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
