Southern Utah Man Sentenced for Damaging ICE Transit Van

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Ryan Michael Gaines, 32, of Santa Clara, Utah, was sentenced today to 36 months’ probation for damaging an ICE Transit Van in April 2025. He was also ordered to pay $2,883.20 in restitution to the United States Department of Homeland Security, which was ordered due at the time of sentencing.

The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Alle, comes after Gaines admitted on October 9, 2025, to willfully damaging government property, a federal felony.

According to court documents and admissions made at Gaines’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Gaines, who was also captured on surveillance video on April 18, 2025, approached and damaged an ICE Transit Van at the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) Office in St. George. Gaines ripped pieces from the passenger and driver’s side mirrors. See prior release: Southern Utah Man Arrested and Charged after Allegedly Damaging an ICE Transit Van.

“Gaines’ conduct is yet another example of an attempt to threaten and obstruct our federal officers tasked with the difficult and multi-faceted duty of enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “Any threat made on any law enforcement will be taken seriously and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

"The defendant's actions were intentional and calculated," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. "No officer or public servant should have to fear for their safety simply for doing their job. Intimidation and violence aimed at those who serve our communities will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted."

The case was investigated jointly by St. George Police Department and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency.

Assistant United States Attorney Brady Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.