A federal grand jury has indicted Francisco De-Jesus Morales, a Nicaraguan national, on charges of assaulting three U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officers at an ICE facility in San Jose. The indictment was filed on June 12, 2025, following an initial complaint in May 2025. Morales appeared in federal court on June 4, 2025, and was taken into custody by U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen.
According to the indictment and the previous complaint, Morales allegedly assaulted the officers on May 2, 2025, as they attempted to take him into custody under a warrant for his removal from the United States.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian stated: “Our office will not tolerate any form of violence against the brave men and women who keep us safe. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the residents of the Northern District of California and supporting our law enforcement partners.”
Michael Ciapas, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge said: “HSI San Francisco does not take assaults on anyone, especially federal officers, lightly. We care deeply about the safety of our agents and partnering agencies.”
The complaint details that Morales resisted arrest physically and tried to escape from the deportation officers. This led to a struggle causing injuries to both Morales and the officers involved. All parties received medical treatment for their injuries which included bruising, scrapes, an ankle stress fracture/strain for one officer along with chest contusion and groin injury.
Morales faces several charges including forcibly assaulting one officer causing significant groin bruising under 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) and (b), along with other charges related to assaults on two other officers under 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1). He is scheduled for arraignment on June 24, 2025.
An indictment indicates allegations of crime; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If convicted on Count One involving assault inflicting bodily injury on a federal officer he could face up to 20 years imprisonment plus $250,000 fine; eight years imprisonment plus $250k fine if convicted under Count Two involving physical contact; one year imprisonment plus $100k fine if convicted under Count Three misdemeanor assault charge—all subject post-conviction sentencing considerations according US Sentencing Guidelines & federal statute governing sentence imposition via section3553c
Special Assistant U.S Attorney Taylor Lord alongside Assistant Jeff Nedrow are handling prosecution resulting from HSI investigation
