Anti-ICE Agitator Unlawfully Present in the United States Pleads Guilty to Impersonating a Border Patrol Agent and Illegally Possessing Firearms

SAN DIEGO - Jaime Ernesto Alvarez-Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico who is unlawfully present in the U.S., pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he impersonated a U.S. Border Patrol Agent in order to disrupt deportation missions.

During an incident on January 8, 2026, Alvarez-Gonzalez closely followed an actual Border Patrol agent while driving a black Ford F-150 truck that appeared to be an undercover Border Patrol vehicle. The truck had a Border Patrol sticker on the windshield, non-functioning radio communications antennae on the roof, a lightbar on the dashboard, a license plate frame displaying the words "Ferderal Truck" [sic.], and handcuffs hanging from the rear-view mirror.

The defendant wore a face mask and thin green line baseball cap, typically worn by Border Patrol supporters, and made a recording in which he said he was actively looking for federal law enforcement involved in deportation missions by Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to a federal complaint, the actual agent who was being followed by Alvarez-Gonzalez believed the F-150 was being used by a legitimate federal law enforcement officer and he felt compelled to divert from his mission to "deconflict" for safety reasons. Generally speaking, law enforcement deconfliction is a process to prevent conflicts between different agencies or officers by sharing information about planned operations, such as surveillance or execution of warrants, to avoid having multiple officers/agents from different agencies working simultaneously in the same area. This is done to ensure officer safety, to prevent compromising investigations, to avoid confusion, and to promote public safety. Deconfliction is important to avoid a potentially dangerous situation where an officer or agency may misidentify another law enforcement officer as an armed perpetrator.

Alvarez-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of impersonating a federal agent and three counts of illegally possessing firearms. Alvarez-Gonzalez overstayed his tourist visa decades ago and has no lawful status in the United States.

According to the complaint and the government's statements in court, when confronted by agents, Alvarez-Gonzalez shouted obscenities and demanded agents leave the community of Linda Vista. At some point, three additional vehicles drove to the agents' location and began harassing the departing agents, chasing agents on the highway.

Alvarez-Gonzalez narrated this entire interaction on video and claimed to have brought in his "reinforcements." On January 14, 2026, ICE-ERO arrested Alvarez-Gonzalez for his illegal status in the United States. Alvarez-Gonzalez had an FBI badge.

After further investigation, the government connected Alvarez-Gonzalez to three firearms illegally possessed by him: a Glock 26 9mm pistol, an Aero Precision Model X15 Multi-Caliber AR-style rifle, and an Interarms Hellpup 7.62x39 AK-style pistol. The government also seized ammunition from his place of business. Evidence showed that Alvarez-Gonzalez traveled to the Southern District of Texas to unlawfully possess firearms at a gun range in Houston. Alvarez-Gonzalez is unlawfully in the United States and legally could not possess those firearms or ammunition

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Siddharth Dadhich. .

DEFENDANT Case Number 26-cr-00911-RBM

Jaime Ernesto Alvarez-Gonzalez Age: 53 San Diego, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

False Personation of a Federal Officer - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 912

Maximum penalty: Three years in prison and $250,000 fine

Knowing Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8)

Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Homeland Security Investigations

Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Removal Operations

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Customs and Border Protection

Federal Bureau of Investigation

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.