Deming Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Border Patrol Agent

LAS CRUCES—Earlier today, Geronimo Erives-Molina, 20, of Deming, New Mexico, pled guilty to a two-count information in federal court in Las Cruces. The information alleged that on August 7, 2010, Erives-Molina assaulted a Border Patrol agent after Border Patrol agents apprehended Erives-Molina with 93 kilograms of marijuana in the desert outside of Deming, New Mexico. According to a criminal complaint filed on August 9, 2010, agents found bundles of marijuana in some brush and then found Erives-Molina hiding nearby. As the agents escorted Erives-Molina out of the area, he reached toward his waist and pulled out a box-cutter and attempted to stab one of the agents. The agent was able to knock the weapon out of Erives-Molina's hand before he could injure anyone.

United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales stated:

Because of the quick reaction by the Border Patrol agents in this case, an extremely dangerous situation was diffused and no one was injured. As a society, we cannot tolerate this type of conduct, and my office will prosecute those individuals who physically threaten or assault a federal officer during the execution of his or her duties.

Erives-Molina, who has been in custody since his arrest, pled guilty to assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111; and possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841. Erives-Molina faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Las Cruces, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Deming. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Nammar.