A Guatemalan citizen living illegally in the United States has been sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
Juan Jose Antuche-Garcia, 33, received his sentence from Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak on September 15, 2025.
Court records show that Antuche-Garcia entered the U.S. without authorization on September 3, 2023. After being released on bond by immigration authorities, he failed to appear for a scheduled immigration court hearing in May 2024. As a result, an immigration judge ordered his removal from the country.
On August 12, 2025, federal officers encountered Antuche-Garcia in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle in which he was a passenger by using emergency lights and sirens on five unmarked vehicles. The driver did not stop and instead rammed into one of the officers’ vehicles, pinning an officer’s leg between the door frame and door. Both the driver and another passenger fled the scene and were not apprehended at that time.
Antuche-Garcia tried to escape by repeatedly opening his door into the vehicle behind him, where the officer’s leg was pinned, causing further injury to the officer. He has remained in custody since his arrest and will stay detained pending removal proceedings.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted the case.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti stated: “I commend U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration for their investigation leading to this successful prosecution.”
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to use Department of Justice resources against cartels and transnational criminal organizations while addressing illegal immigration and violent crime.
