Worcester Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Informant

BOSTON - A Worcester man has been charged with assault of a federal confidential informant during a planned firearm transaction in connection with the armed robbery.

Joshua Guzman, 18, was charged with assault of a person assisting federal officers with a dangerous weapon. Guzman remains detained in federal custody following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester earlier today.

According to the charging documents, beginning on Feb. 18, 2026, Guzman and another individual allegedly coordinated the sale of a firearm to a federal confidential informant through a series of WhatsApp communications. It is alleged that Guzman and the individual directed the informant to meet at a location in Worcester on Feb. 25, 2026, to complete the transaction.

There, Guzman and the other individual allegedly entered the informant's vehicle. It is alleged that, after the exchange of money for a gun, Guzman suddenly removed a firearm from his waistband, racked the slide back and pointed it at the informant while stating, "Gimme everything n****." Guzman then allegedly struck the informant in the head with the firearm and grabbed the firearm that the informant purchased from the center console before both individuals fled the vehicle.

The informant immediately alerted monitoring agents, who had been conducting surveillance in the area. Guzman was observed fleeing on foot and was apprehended a short distance away after a brief pursuit. During the chase, a firearm fell from Guzman's clothing and was recovered. The second individual was located and arrested nearby following the establishment of a perimeter. Investigators subsequently recovered clothing, a cellphone and approximately $1,600 in cash, consistent with the proceeds of the robbery.

The charge of assault of a person assisting federal officers with a dangerous weapon provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Worcester Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.