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Press Release

Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal Officer

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 33-year-old man from Guatemala has entered a guilty plea to assaulting a Border Patrol (BP) agent and for illegally entering the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

In the early morning hours of March 27, 2019, authorities encounters Lorenzo Perechu-Tziquin and others attempting to circumvent the U.S. BP Checkpoint near Falfurrias. The majority of the group complied with commands. However, Perechu-Tziquin, in an effort to prevent arrest, shoved and kicked a BP agent multiple times in the chest area through a barb-wire fence. In the course of the struggle, he caused multiple lacerations to the agent’s hands and arms, which required medical attention. 

Perechu-Tziquin was eventually subdued and apprehended with the assistance of another BP agent. 

Perechu-Tziquin was previously convicted of illegal entry into the United States in August 2018 and subsequently deported.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept.18, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. At that time, Perechu-Tziquin faces up to 20 years for each count as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.  

The FBI and BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yifei Zheng is prosecuting the case.   

Updated June 25, 2019

Topics
Immigration
Violent Crime