Phoenix Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Assault of a Federal Officer and Alien Smuggling Charges Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona Byline: Zach J. Stoebe Dateline: Tucson, Arizona Date: 30 December 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Leroy Witt, 56, of Phoenix, was sentenced on December 17, 2024, by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 120 months in prison. On July 11, 2024, Witt was convicted at trial of Assault on a Federal Officer Causing Bodily Injury, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit.

On February 20, 2023, a U.S. Border Patrol agent stopped Witt near Sonoita, on suspicion that Witt was transporting undocumented noncitizens. After Witt stopped and tried to wave the agent past him, the agent approached the driver’s side window and told Witt to turn off the vehicle. Witt did not comply with the agent’s instruction and the agent attempted to turn off the engine. Witt then proceeded to hit the gas pedal while the agent was still hanging onto the car window. The acceleration caused the agent to be dragged alongside the vehicle as it veered into the oncoming lane of traffic. The agent was able to turn the vehicle off and bring it to a stop on the opposite side of the road. In the backseat of the vehicle, Witt had concealed two undocumented noncitizens who were being illegally transported further into the United States.   

Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer H. Berman and Ryan P. DeJoe, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR-23-00389-JCH_EJM
RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-182_Witt

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Public Affairs
Zach J. Stoebe
Telephone: (602) 514-7413
zachry.stoebe@usdoj.gov

Updated December 30, 2024

Press Release Number: 2024-182_Witt