Michel Manuel Garcia Rojas, a 39-year-old citizen of Nicaragua, pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting a federal officer during an arrest conducted under the Laken Riley Act. During the incident, Garcia Rojas resisted arrest and physically assaulted a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent who was attempting to detain him, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Garcia Rojas had been residing in the United States without legal status and has been in removal proceedings since entering the country in 2023. Court documents indicate that he was charged under New York State law with petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child. Those charges resulted in his detention pursuant to the Laken Riley Act, which provides for the detention of individuals charged with specified offenses.
After being handcuffed and placed in a vehicle, Garcia Rojas exited the vehicle and attempted to leave. An HSI Special Agent intervened, and a physical struggle followed. The agent sustained injuries, including abrasions, bruising, and a back injury that required several months away from work for recovery. Additional officers responded, and a taser was used to restrain and take Garcia Rojas back into custody.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated that the Laken Riley Act enabled authorities to detain Garcia Rojas in the Northern District of New York. He also referenced the actions taken by prosecutors and Homeland Security Investigations in the case. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16. Garcia Rojas faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as well as potential fines, a term of supervised release, and possible removal from the United States.
HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated that Garcia Rojas’ actions posed a threat to the safety of law enforcement personnel and the communities they serve. She also indicated that the agency remains committed to pursuing charges in cases involving assaults on federal officers. The investigation is ongoing, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.
