Guatemalan National Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting ICE Officers in Lake Worth Beach

MIAMI – A Guatemalan national has been sentenced to federal prison after he assaulted two federal officers attempting to arrest him.

U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks sentenced Fredy Aureliano Morales-Ramirez, 39, residing in Lake Worth Beach, to one year and one day in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to forcibly assaulting a federal officer.

“Assaulting federal officers will never be tolerated here,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “These officers were doing their jobs, lawfully executing an arrest warrant, and they were met with violence. Today’s sentence makes clear that if you attack federal law enforcement in South Florida, you will go to prison.”

According to court records, on Aug. 13, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officers attempted to execute an arrest warrant for Morales-Ramirez, who was illegally present in the U.S. Officers located Morales-Ramirez during a vehicle stop near his residence.

During the stop, Morales-Ramirez refused to comply with officers’ commands, attempted to place his vehicle into drive, and actively resisted arrest by pushing the deportation officers and grabbing their handcuffs. Morales-Ramirez then attempted to flee on foot by exiting through the passenger-side door.

The officers pursued Morales-Ramirez and attempted to restrain him. Morales-Ramirez continued to resist, striking the officers on their arms and torsos. With assistance from a deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, officers were eventually able to restrain Morales-Ramirez on the ground.

U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Field Office Director Kelei Walker of ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), made the announcement.

ICE ERO investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ralston prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-80140.

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