NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JACOBO EDUARDO US-REAL (“US-REAL”) , age 18, a native of Guatemala, was indicted on March 5, 2026, for assaulting a federal officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, on or about January 14, 2026, US-REAL assaulted an Officer of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), during the performance of her official duties, inflicting bodily injury upon the federal officer. While conducting illegal immigration field operations in Metairie, Louisiana, ICE-ERO approached a vehicle owned by a known alien with a prior order of removal. The occupants of the vehicle refused to exit the vehicle and attempted to flee in the vehicle. One of the occupants exited the vehicle and fled on foot. A scuffle ensued between law enforcement officers and the remaining two occupants during which pepper spray was deployed. The driver fled on foot but was ultimately caught and arrested. US-REAL was handcuffed and placed in the rear of a law enforcement vehicle. While an ICE-ERO agent was assisting US-REAL by flushing his eyes with water, he headbutted the agent, bit her, and fled on foot while handcuffed behind his back. US-REAL was later apprehended by ICE agents.
If convicted, US-REAL faces up to eight (8) years of imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide 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).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Veters, Jr. and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Kippers of the General Crimes Unit.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Eastern District of Louisiana — U.S. Department of Justice press release.