A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted six people for allegedly impeding a federal agent during immigration enforcement operations in Broadview, Illinois, last month. The indictment, unsealed in U.S. District Court, charges all six with conspiracy and individual counts of impeding a U.S. law enforcement officer.
According to the indictment, the group was part of a crowd that surrounded a government vehicle on September 26, 2025. The defendants are accused of blocking the vehicle’s path as it traveled to a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. They allegedly stood in front and on the sides of the car, banged on its windows, pushed against it to prevent movement, broke a side mirror and rear windshield wiper, and etched a derogatory message into the vehicle.
“No one is above the law and no one has the right to obstruct it,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Federal agents perform dangerous, essential work every single day to enforce our immigration laws and keep our communities safe. When individuals resort to force or intimidation to interfere with that mission, they attack not only the agents themselves but the rule of law they represent. The Department of Justice will never tolerate such conduct and will continue to hold accountable anyone who seeks to impede lawful federal operations.”
“All federal officials must be able to discharge the duties of their office without confronting force, intimidation, or threats,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “As we have warned repeatedly, we will seek to hold accountable those who cross the line from peaceful protests to unlawful actions or conspiracies that interrupt, hinder, or impede the due administration of Justice. The rule of law must always be upheld.”
The six charged are Michael Rabbitt (62), Katherine Marie Abughazaleh (26), Catherine Sharp (29), Joselyn Walsh (31)—all from Chicago; Brian Straw (38) from Oak Park; and Andre Martin (27) from Providence, Rhode Island. Their arraignments are scheduled for November 5 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain.
Deputy Attorney General Blanche and U.S. Attorney Boutros announced these charges along with Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge at FBI’s Chicago Field Office.
“The FBI has zero tolerance for forcible criminal conduct against law enforcement officers engaged in their lawful functions,” said FBI SAC DePodesta. “Impeding federal officers performing their duties or conspiring to do so are criminal offenses. The people of Chicagoland deserve safe communities and peaceful streets and the FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who undermine the rule of law through criminal activity.”
Authorities reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
A video recording related to this incident is available online; authorities encourage anyone recognizing additional individuals involved in impeding law enforcement during this event to contact the FBI Chicago Field Office.
