Mexican National Illegally Present in the United States Indicted for Assault Causing Bodily Injury After Biting Federal Agent

LAFAYETTE - A federal grand jury in Lafayette returned an indictment on December 17 charging Maximiliano Perez-Perez, a Mexican national illegally in the United States, with assaulting a federal officer and causing bodily injury. Perez-Perez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the charge.

"If you injure a federal agent doing his or her job, then you're going to jail-simple as that," said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. "Law enforcement officers place themselves in harm's way every day to make our community safe, and our Office stands ready to take swift action to punish and deter those who put them in danger."

According to court documents, Perez-Perez, 22, was encountered by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) officers on November 21, 2025, after the officers received a tip that a van would be transporting illegal immigrants in Louisiana. When the ICE/ERO officers attempted to detain Perez-Perez, he refused to exit the vehicle and grabbed onto the vehicle's steering wheel. When the officers removed Perez-Perez, he then fled on foot. When the officers caught him, Perez-Perez resisted further by biting deeply into the hand of one of the ICE/ERO officers, drawing blood and leaving Perez-Perez with blood on his face from the officer's injury.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon, II.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.

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