Las Vegas Attorney Charged With Assaulting Federal Officers

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas attorney made his initial appearance in federal court today for allegedly assaulting three FBI Special Agents with a firearm when they attempted to interview him at his home.

Matthew Wade Beasley (49) was arrested on March 4, 2022. He is charged with one count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 22, 2022.

According to allegations in the criminal complaint, on March 3, 2022, FBI Special Agents went to a house in northwest Las Vegas to interview Beasley as part of an ongoing investigation. When agents knocked on the glass front doors, Beasley appeared with part of his body obscured. After an agent pulled back his suit jacket to show his FBI badge, Beasley then stepped into complete view with a gun pointed at his own head. When agents instructed Beasley to drop the gun, Beasley instead pointed it at the agents in a sweeping motion — causing one or more agents to discharge their firearm and striking Beasley.

The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon.

Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge W.M. Herrington for the FBI made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Lopez and Eric Schmale are prosecuting the case.

A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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