A federal grand jury has indicted 12 individuals for allegedly assaulting two federal correctional officers in January 2025. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the charges, stating that all defendants are expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis.
The accused include Mexican nationals Bryan Hernandez-Ruiz, Francisco Antonio Hernandez-Mora, Ivan Ramirez-Zapata, Adrian David Guzman-Salas, David Ramirez-Bautista, Roberto Fabian Garza-Castaneda, Jose Alberto Resendez-Hernandez, Jose Ramos-Lerma, Ruben Gonzalez-Balderas, and Oscar Ambrocio Hernandez. Additionally charged are Osman Joel Hernandez-Pavon and Roger Emmanuel Lemus from Guatemala.
The indictment alleges that the 12 men were involved in aiding and abetting an assault on two federal corrections officers at the East Hidalgo Detention Center in La Villa.
“The Department of Justice has zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers,” said Ganjei. “The grand jury has returned an indictment that alleges a serious attack on two corrections officers, and rest assured, the Southern District of Texas will hold accountable all those found guilty.”
If convicted, each defendant could face up to eight years in federal prison along with a potential fine of $250,000. All accused individuals remain in custody.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Avery Benitez prosecuting the case.
It is important to note that an indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct but not evidence itself; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.