Venezuelan illegal alien pleads guilty to assaulting federal officer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - An illegal alien from Venezuela pleaded guilty in federal court here today to assaulting a federal officer.

Kendry Jose Cubian-Perez, 40, admitted to punching a federal officer during apprehension.

According to court documents, on May 8, law enforcement officials were conducting surveillance of a residence in Powell, attempting to apprehend a known criminal alien. Cubian-Perez exited the residence and entered a vehicle registered to the target of the enforcement operation.

When an apprehension team officer turned on their emergency vehicle lights, Cubian-Perez attempted to flee. The defendant encountered an Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officer and punched the officer in the face, causing the officer's tooth to puncture his bottom lip. Cubian-Perez tried to escape as the officer and others on scene responded to apprehend him and place him in handcuffs.

Cubian-Perez was charged by criminal complaint on May 8 and indicted by a federal grand jury the same month.

Assault of a federal officer inflicting bodily injury is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycroft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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