Idaho Man Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Threat And Assault Of Federal Law Enforcement During 2014 Armed Standoff In Bunkerville

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An Idaho man was sentenced today to 168 months in federal prison for his involvement in the armed assault against federal law enforcement officers that occurred in April 2014, in the Bunkerville, Nevada, area, during the removal and impoundment of Cliven Bundy’s cattle that were trespassing on federal public lands, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada

Todd C. Engel, 51, was found guilty by a jury in April 2017, of obstruction of justice and interstate travel in aid of extortion. He was indicted by a grand jury in March 2016. United States District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro presided over the trial and sentencing hearing.

During a 32-day jury trial, evidence showed, that in April 2014, Engel traveled to Bunkerville with the intent to commit a crime of violence against federal law enforcement officers who were executing a federal court order. Engel, brandishing a loaded AR-15 assault rifle with extra ammunition in his tactical vest, hid behind concrete barriers on the I-15 overpass. He brandished his firearm at law enforcement to impede, intimidate, and to threaten to assault federal law enforcement officers involved in the impoundment operations.          

The case was investigated by the FBI and BLM. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven W. Myhre, Daniel R. Schiess, and Nadia J. Ahmed prosecuted the case.

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