Lincoln Man Sentenced to 30 Months’ Imprisonment for Assaulting Federal Officers

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Balmore Hernandez-Castro, 24, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to 30 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. After he completes his prison sentence, Hernandez-Castro will also serve two years on supervised release, and he will be deported to El Salvador following the completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. Hernandez-Castro pleaded guilty to the offense on September 21, 2022.

Two deportation officers with the Department of Homeland Security had a warrant for Hernandez-Castro’s arrest. The morning of July 12, 2021, the officers observed Hernandez-Castro leave his home with another person, get into the passenger side of a car, and drive away. The officers stopped the car a couple of blocks away from Hernandez-Castro’s home. When the officers informed Hernandez-Castro they had a warrant for his arrest, Hernandez-Castro immediately began resisting arrest. He refused to get out of the car. A struggle ensued and during the struggle, Hernandez-Castro punched, kicked, and bit the deportation officers. Officers with the Lincoln Police Department responded to a 911 call for assistance. Several officers arrived on scene within a matter of a few minutes. With the assistance of the additional officers, and after the use of a Taser, Hernandez-Castro was finally arrested.

In addition to the deportation officers, and assistance from the Lincoln Police Department, agents with Homeland Security Investigations contributed additional follow-up investigation.