Michael Leroy Witt, a 56-year-old resident of Phoenix, has been sentenced to ten years in prison following his conviction on charges related to assaulting a federal officer and alien smuggling. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker on December 17, 2024.
Witt's conviction, which occurred on July 11, 2024, includes charges of Assault on a Federal Officer Causing Bodily Injury, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit.
The incident leading to Witt's arrest took place on February 20, 2023. A U.S. Border Patrol agent stopped Witt near Sonoita under suspicion that he was transporting undocumented noncitizens. When the agent instructed Witt to turn off his vehicle after approaching the driver's side window, Witt refused to comply. As the agent attempted to turn off the engine manually, Witt accelerated with the agent still clinging to the car window. This action resulted in the agent being dragged alongside as the vehicle moved into an oncoming traffic lane. The situation was resolved when the agent managed to stop the vehicle on the opposite side of the road. Inside the car's backseat were two undocumented noncitizens concealed by Witt for illegal transport further into U.S. territory.
The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer H. Berman and Ryan P. DeJoe from the District of Arizona in Tucson.