A federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment against two Chandler men accused of assaulting FBI agents during an immigration enforcement operation in early June.
Jose Sarinana, 42, and Abran Villa Jr., 40, were indicted on June 10, on charges of assaulting, resisting and impeding federal officers.
According to the indictment, the charges stem from a June 1 incident where FBI agents assisted ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in detaining an individual unlawfully present in the U.S.
During the operation, officials said Villa was pulled over by law enforcement while driving the undocumented passenger, who was subsequently taken into custody.
Villa later returned to the passenger’s residence and, according to the indictment, informed Sarinana about the arrest. Both men then got into separate vehicles and returned to the scene.
The indictment alleges that as one FBI agent left the area, Sarinana followed him in a vehicle and attempted multiple times to run him off the road. The agent called for assistance, prompting several FBI units to respond.
While agents were attempting to stop Sarinana, according to the indictment, Villa allegedly used his truck to block one agent’s car in a parking lot, revving his engine while blocking the agent’s exit.
After leaving the area, the indictment said Villa returned at a high speed, pointing his truck directly at a group of agents before stopping and revving his engine again. He ultimately complied after multiple agents drew their firearms.
Sarinana and Villa were arraigned on June 10. Both pleaded not guilty to all pending counts. Sarinana was released on his own recognizance under court-imposed conditions, and Villa remains in detention. A jury trial for both defendants is set for Aug. 5.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, a Trump administration initiative that mobilizes Justice Department resources to combat illegal immigration and transnational crime.
If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.