An Arizona man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a human smuggling operation and assaulting a federal officer. The sentence was handed down on December 17, 2024, by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker.
Michael Leroy Witt, 56, of Phoenix, was convicted at trial on July 11, 2024, for Assault on a Federal Officer Causing Bodily Injury, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit.
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The charges stem from an incident on February 20, 2023, near Sonoita, Arizona. A U.S. Border Patrol agent stopped Witt on suspicion of transporting undocumented noncitizens. When the agent approached Witt’s vehicle and instructed him to turn off the engine, Witt refused to comply.
As the agent attempted to turn off the vehicle, Witt hit the gas pedal, dragging the agent alongside the car and veering into the oncoming lane of traffic. Despite the danger, the agent managed to turn off the vehicle and bring it to a stop on the opposite side of the road.
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Inside Witt’s vehicle, two undocumented noncitizens were concealed in the backseat. Witt was transporting them further into the United States for profit.
The case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol. Prosecutors Jennifer H. Berman and Ryan P. DeJoe from the District of Arizona’s Tucson office led the prosecution.
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