A 19-year-old resident of Penitas, Texas, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for interfering with federal law enforcement officers during an arrest. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Diego Masiel Torres pleaded guilty on October 29, 2025. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera described Torres’ actions as unlawful and emphasized that the sentence reflects the principle that no one is above the law.
“There is, at present, an unfortunate belief that the public can freely obstruct law enforcement from carrying out their duties, and do so without consequence. Today’s sentence shows just how mistaken that belief is,” said Ganjei. “If you want to express your disagreement with a particular federal law or policy, there is a right way to do so, and a wrong way — and tangling with the police is one hundred percent always the wrong way. Today, Mr. Torres learned that lesson the hard way.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio also commented on the case: “Those who endanger our agents and undermine the safety of our communities will face serious consequences,” he said. “Interfering with federal law enforcement is a grave offense, and today’s sentencing makes clear that such actions will be met with swift and decisive justice.”
The incident occurred on August 27, 2025, when authorities were conducting a consensual worksite enforcement operation in Harlingen, Texas. Several individuals fled as officers arrived; while they attempted to apprehend an undocumented immigrant, Torres tried to remove the individual from custody and placed an officer in a chokehold before being subdued by additional agents.
Torres remains in custody following his sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), and Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Salazar prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, which uses Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration and combat transnational criminal organizations across the country.
