Five people have been charged in federal court in Chicago with assaulting or resisting federal agents during immigration enforcement operations that took place over the weekend in Broadview, Illinois.
According to criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court, the defendants were part of a group gathered outside a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Saturday evening. The complaints allege that these individuals made physical contact with federal agents who were stationed outside the building to ensure safe passage for agents, detainees, and vehicles. Two of those charged allegedly had loaded firearms during the incidents.
“Under my leadership, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will take swift action when law enforcement personnel are criminally assaulted or individuals cross the line from peaceful protests to criminal mischief, assaults on federal officers, obstruction of justice, or the destruction of federal property,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “We are working hand-and-glove with our federal law enforcement partners across the various federal agencies to maintain peace, respect individual rights, and prosecute those who violate federal criminal laws, including through activity that endangers officer and public safety. We will not hesitate to hold accountable those who attack and undermine the rule of law, including by resorting to violence and criminal mischief to interfere, obstruct, or impede the important work of the federal government as it is conducted in the Northern District of Illinois.”
The five defendants appeared in court Monday. Ray Collins, 31, of Chicago is charged with felony assault of a federal officer; he allegedly had a loaded handgun when he rushed at agents and struggled with them, resulting in an agent being injured. Jocelyne Robledo, 30, also from Chicago, faces felony assault charges after allegedly possessing a loaded handgun while pushing agents trying to expand a safety perimeter around the facility.
Paul Ivery, 26, from Oak Park is accused of grabbing an agent’s helmet and pulling their head down while making threats against agents. Dana Briggs, 70, from Rockford is charged with felony assault after allegedly making physical contact with an agent’s arm during efforts to extend a safety perimeter. Hubert Mazur, 21, from Medinah faces misdemeanor charges for forcibly resisting officers; he allegedly grabbed an agent’s arm before both ended up on the ground as Mazur continued to resist arrest.
U.S. Attorney Boutros announced these charges along with officials from several agencies: Christopher Amon from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Lucas Rothaar from the FBI; and Matthew Scarpino from Homeland Security Investigations at ICE in Chicago. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Havey, Caitlin Walgamuth, Timothy Chapman and Jeffrey Snell are representing the government.
“The FBI is committed to bringing swift and decisive action against anyone who seeks to bring harm to federal law enforcement,” said FBI Acting SAC Rothaar. “Officers who are sworn to protect and serve our communities must be able to do their jobs free from intimidation. The FBI will continue to work with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to investigate those who compromise the safety of our public servants.”
Authorities emphasized that these charges are allegations only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
