Federal Jury Convicts Man and Woman of Interfering with Federal Officers Performing Official Duties and Related Offenses

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte returned a guilty verdict today against William Stanley, 25, and Heather Morrow, 45, both of Charlotte, for impeding and disrupting the performance of official duties of government employees; failure to comply with the lawful direction of an authorized individual; and obstructing the entrance on a federal property. Morrow was also found guilty of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with federal officers performing their official duties. Stanley was found not guilty of that offense. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew E. Orso presided over the trial. 

According to court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on November 16, 2025, Morrow and Stanley, aiding and abetting one another, willfully entered federal property, specifically, the grounds of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) building in Charlotte. Trial evidence established that, while there, Stanley and Morrow engaged in disorderly conduct and other actions that unreasonably obstructed the usual use of the building’s entrances and parking lots. For example, according to evidence presented at trial and witness testimony, Stanley, Morrow, and three other individuals placed cones on the entrance driveway to the federal property and formed a human chain, blocking ERO Deportation Officers from entering in their official vehicles. In addition, Morrow’s vehicle was parked in the exit lane, blocking vehicles from exiting the federal property. 

U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow – On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property. 

U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow – On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow’s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property  

Trial evidence further established that Stanley and Morrow’s conduct impeded and disrupted ERO Deportation Officers in the performance of their official duties and the defendants failed to comply with the lawful direction of ERO Deportation Officers. According to trial evidence, Stanley stood in front of the government-issued vehicle of an ERO Deportation Officer, blocking the officer from entering the property. Stanley then placed his hands on the hood of the ERO Deportation Officer’s vehicle to stop the officer from entering. While the ERO Deportation Officer was attempting to arrest Stanley, Morrow grabbed the officer by the shoulder, interfering with the officer’s attempt to take Stanley into custody, thereby forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and intimidating the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged in the performance of their official duties, with such acts constituting simple assault. 

U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow – On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer’s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property 

U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow – On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged attesting to place Stanley in custody. 

The defendants were released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set. 

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Smith and Caryn Finley prosecuted the case