A man in Martin County, Florida, faces charges after allegedly attempting to deceive two Hispanic men into believing he was an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
José Juan Lopez, 23, of Indiantown, reportedly approached the individuals, demanding their identification and threatening deportation. Fortunately, the men were suspicious of Lopez’s demeanor and did not comply, choosing to drive away and contact emergency services.
“The victims reported that Lopez claimed to be an ICE Agent and insisted on seeing their identification while also mentioning possible deportation,” stated a report from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. “They became suspicious and drove off before calling 911.”
When authorities located Lopez, he initially maintained his innocence, alleging that *he* was the victim of threats regarding deportation.
“Deputies found Lopez claiming to be the actual victim, stating he’d been threatened with deportation,” the Sheriff’s Office reported. “After further questioning, however, he was arrested and charged with impersonating a federal law enforcement agent.”
Lopez has a history of prior arrests, including:
- Resisting arrest
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Violation of probation
- Child abuse
- Domestic battery
- Battery
The current status of those previous charges remains unclear.
According to Martin County Sheriff’s Office Major Rueben Romero, the situation unfolded while Lopez was transporting his coworkers.
“He picks up all the guys that work with him in his van. He had stopped to pick up another coworker when a silver truck pulled in front of him, blocking them and getting in their way. A gentleman jumped out, identifying himself as an ICE agent, demanding identification, inquiring about their immigration status – whether they were documented or undocumented,”
Romero explained to WPBF.
“Luckily for us, the victim recognized that this was not a typical law enforcement officer. Normal police officers don’t jump out in pajama pants and backwards hats,”
Romero added, highlighting the suspicious nature of Lopez’s appearance.
Impersonating a federal officer is a serious offense carrying potential penalties outlined by the Office of Law Revision Council, which includes a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to three years in prison.
