Two Mexican nationals plead guilty to assaulting Border Patrol agent in Texas

 Two Mexican nationals pleaded guilty Thursday to attacking a Border Patrol agent in Texas, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico, Jose Maria Reyes-Fuentes, 23, and his brother Juventino Darinel Reyes-Fuentes, 29, both Mexican citizens, attacked a Border Patrol agent from the Santa Teresa Patrol Station, who had ordered him to do so. Had tried. Arrest him on August 20, 2023.

Juventino Darinel and Jose Maria will remain in custody until sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

He faces up to eight years in prison.

Alexander M.M. Ublez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Albuquerque Field Office, said the altercation occurred when a Border Patrol agent began following a group of five to seven migrants. . Riding on an all-terrain vehicle.

"After a brief search, the agent found Juventino Darnielle hiding in a bush. The agent pulled Juventino Darnielle out of the bush and began handcuffing him," the attorney's office said. "After the agent applied the first handcuffs, but before the agent could secure him, Juventino Darinel began to resist the agent. During the ensuing struggle, Juventino Darinel screamed, at which time Jose Maria got up approximately 20 yards away and ran. Went towards the agent with a stick."

"Agent broke away from Juventino Darinel, took out his duty weapon, and ordered Jose Maria to stop in Spanish. Juventino Darinel then tackled the agent and got on top of him. When he was on the ground, Jose Maria The altercation approached the agent. The agent felt Juventino Darnielle reach for his weapon and ordered him to stop again in Spanish. The agent then fired his weapon at Juventino Darnielle in the leg. The gun malfunctioned and "The agent lost control of the weapon."

Other agents were able to continue tracking the ATV, eventually locating it at the bottom of the mesa. Juventino Darinel and José María were spotted by a border patrol helicopter and later arrested.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation handled the case. The US Border Patrol also assisted.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

Santa Teresa Patrol Station is located just west of El Paso, Texas, just across the U.S.-Mexico border from Ciudad Juarez.