Man Found Guilty Of Trying To Run Over Border Patrol Agent
EL PASO, TX – A federal jury has convicted the man accused of trying to run over a Border Patrol agent with his car in April.
28-year-old Gerardo Felipe Ortiz was convicted on one count of assault on a federal officer. U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton tells ABC-7 testimony in court revealed agents Federico Figueroa and Jose Garcia were parked in a local business in central El Paso when they witnessed a suspicious cash transaction between Ortiz and another individual. The transaction involved a large amount of money, according to the agents.
Both agents approached Ortiz after he got into his vehicle and identified themselves as federal agents, adds Sutton. They repeatedly instructed Ortiz to turn off the engine and exit the vehicle. According to them, Ortiz disregarded their instructions and fled the scene in his truck.
Agent Figueroa stated, that the fear of being seriously injured or killed, made him move quickly to avoid being hit by Ortiz. He then fired one round from his issued handgun, said Sutton.
Ortiz was arrested by FBI agents at Thomason Hospital later that day after he sought treatment for a gunshot wound to his left hand and right shoulder. Authorities also recovered Ortiz’s vehicle from the hospital parking lot.
As a result of his conviction, Ortiz now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Sutton says sentencing is scheduled for January of next year before United States District Judge David Briones.
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Written for the web by Joe Villasana
