LAREDO, Texas – A 24-year-old man from Zacatecas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of assaulting three Border Patrol (BP) agents, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Luis Gustavo Ramirez-Saucedo pleaded guilty June 25.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana handed Ramirez-Saucedo a 33-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from three BP agents who testified as to how they were assaulted. Ramirez-Saucedo testified that he only intended to flee.

Authorities were working their assigned duties in Laredo during the late evening of March 29 when they responded to an alert of a large group crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico. They made contact with various illegal aliens in the 20-person group, one of whom was Ramirez-Saucedo.

Soon after, Ramirez-Saucedo violently resisted the efforts of three BP agents to apprehend him, striking one in the face with his hand. Ramirez-Saucedo later assaulted another agent by throwing a ladder at him which struck him in the arms. He assaulted a third agent by striking him in the face with his forearm, causing his nose to begin bleeding.

Following his apprehension, Ramirez-Saucedo admitted he was a citizen or national of Mexico with no authority to be in or to enter the United States and had just entered the United States illegally.

Ramirez-Saucedo has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI and BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned a three-indictment against a 23-year-old Mexican citizen for assault on three Border Patrol (BP) agents, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Luis Gustavo Ramirez-Saucedo was originally charged by criminal complaint and ordered into custody pending further criminal proceedings. Today, a grand jury sitting in Laredo returned the indictment. He is expected to make an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon in the near future.

The facts in the complaint allege that on March 29, 2019. BP agents were working their assigned duties in Laredo. At approximately 9:30 p.m., they were alerted to a group of approximately 20 subjects entering the United States from Mexico by illegally crossing the Rio Grande River and activating electronic sensors, according to the charges.

According to the complaint, agents responded immediately and made contact with Ramirez-Saucedo within minutes. At that time, he allegedly violently resisted three BP agents’ efforts to apprehend him, allegedly striking them and ignoring multiple commands to halt before finally being detained.

The BP agents were treated for injuries at a medical facility.

Ramirez-Saucedo is charged with knowingly and unlawfully assaulting and resisting federal officers in their official duties. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

BP and the FBI are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.