Michel Manuel Garcia Rojas, a 38-year-old Nicaraguan citizen residing in Albany, has been charged with resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
According to the complaint filed in federal court, Garcia Rojas entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 and has been under removal proceedings since then. The Rotterdam Police Department contacted HSI after charging Garcia Rojas and another individual with petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child under New York State law. Both individuals were subject to immediate detention under the Laken Riley Act. HSI obtained warrants for their arrest and proceeded to detain them at the Rotterdam Police Department.
While being transported in a federal vehicle, Garcia Rojas escaped his handcuffs and attempted to flee. An HSI Special Agent confronted him, leading to an altercation where Garcia Rojas struck the agent and caused injuries. It required six officers and a taser to subdue him.
The charges against Garcia Rojas are accusations at this stage; he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, fines up to $250,000, and supervised release for up to three years.
Garcia Rojas appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart in Albany today and was detained pending a hearing on March 10.
The case is being investigated by HSI with assistance from the Rotterdam Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is handling prosecution duties.