A Houston man who flashed what looked like an ICE badge during a bogus late-night traffic stop is heading to state prison for four years. Yesterday, 38-year-old Guliano Christopher Thomson was sentenced after pleading guilty to impersonating a public servant and robbery by threats, according to court records. The punishment stems from a plea agreement in which prosecutors offered the four-year term in exchange for his guilty pleas.
Prosecutors say Thomson pulled a man over around 1 a.m. on June 23, 2025, in the 6400 block of Skyline Drive in west Houston, using his vehicle to box in the victim’s car. They allege he flashed a badge, claimed ICE authority and demanded money. The victim reportedly handed over about $1,800 in cash and a Guatemalan ID before Thomson drove off. District Judge Peyton Peebles signed off on the four-year sentence after the plea, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
How the stop unfolded
Police picked Thomson up the next day after a traffic stop in the Third Ward, tracking him to a home on Wichita Street near Brays Bayou. Local reports say that during the encounter he again claimed to be an ICE agent and appeared to show a badge. An ICE spokesperson told KTRK that “ICE strongly condemns the impersonation of its officers or agents” and stressed that impersonating federal officers is a crime, according to KTRK/ABC13.
Criminal record and case context
Court filings paint a long rap sheet for Thomson. He was convicted of arson in 2022 and received a 10-year sentence, then was released on parole in July 2024. Records also show prior convictions for theft, driving while intoxicated, using a fictitious license plate and credit card abuse, along with more than a dozen alleged bond violations. Prosecutors noted that if Thomson had taken his case to trial and lost, he could have faced up to 20 years behind bars, but the plea deal locked in a four-year state term, per the Houston Chronicle.
A broader spike in impersonations
Thomson’s case is not an isolated one. A CNN investigation tallied at least two dozen incidents in 2025 in which suspects allegedly posed as ICE officers to carry out crimes ranging from theft to violent assaults. Advocates have pushed for clearer identification standards in the field for federal officers, arguing that more visible credentials could help communities and local law enforcement spot fakes more quickly. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division keeps a 24-hour tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) and offers an online portal for reporting suspected imposters, according to ICE.
Hoodline's earlier report
Hoodline first reported on Thomson’s arrest and the initial slate of charges in June 2025. For more background on the case, see our earlier piece on his being charged with robbery.
