Three people have been charged in federal court in Chicago for allegedly using their vehicles to interfere with the work of federal agents. According to criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court, two of the defendants are accused of ramming their vehicles into those driven by federal agents, while a third is alleged to have rear-ended a federal law enforcement vehicle.
The individuals charged are Widman Osberto Lopez Funes, 18, of Bensenville, Illinois; Miguel Escareno De Loera, 20, of Woodridge, Illinois; and Joel Gonzalez, 23, of Chicago. Lopez Funes faces charges of felony assault on a federal officer and depredation of U.S. property after allegedly striking a vehicle operated by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations on October 1 in Bensenville.
De Loera is charged with felony assault on a federal officer for allegedly striking an ICE vehicle three times on October 2 in Woodridge. Gonzalez faces a misdemeanor charge for allegedly impeding and interfering with agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection while driving in Chicago on October 2.
The charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.
“The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” according to the announcement.
