Lexington Woman Sentenced for Impeding the Arrest of a Fugitive

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., woman, Xochitl Sonia Navarro, 45, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 36 months in prison, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers in the performance of their official duties.

According to Navarro’s plea agreement, on October 8, 2024, ICE-ERO officers began an operation to arrest Jorge Iban Cuellar-Avendano, a citizen of Mexico who had illegally re-entered the United States. Cuellar-Avendano had previously evaded arrest by fleeing in a vehicle. On this occasion, officers observed the fugitive and Navarro, the driver, get into the vehicle. When officers approached the vehicle, Navarro refused to open its doors, and attempted to evade the officers by lunging, accelerating and attempting to flee. In doing so, three officers suffered cuts, abrasions, and bruising; one officer was knocked to the ground and dragged by the vehicle, causing deep lacerations on both arms. Officers ultimately had to break the window to stop the vehicle. 

Under federal law, Navarro must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Separately, Cuellar-Avendano was sentenced to 12 months in prison for illegal reentry into the United States after a prior deportation or removal, and will be subject to deportation following service of his sentence.

Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Sam Olson, Director, Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, (ICE-ERO) Chicago Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by ICE-ERO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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