Venezuelan Illegal Alien Faces Multiple Charges in Austin

Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez, a Venezuelan national, has been charged in Austin with multiple offenses related to an incident involving federal officers. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, Garces-Perez faces charges of assaulting, resisting, interfering, and impeding a federal officer.

The charges stem from an event on September 20, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officers conducted a traffic stop on Garces-Perez. The stop was initiated after an immigration judge issued a final order of removal against him. During the stop, Garces-Perez allegedly provided his driver's license to the officers, but when asked to park his vehicle and step out, he reportedly ignored the orders.

The criminal complaint alleges that Garces-Perez closed his window and drove off, striking one of the ICE officers with his vehicle's side-view mirror. This action led to a high-speed chase through both commercial and residential areas, with ICE officers in pursuit using emergency lights and sirens.

During the pursuit, Garces-Perez allegedly attempted to strike another officer with his car, prompting the officer to discharge his firearm. The incident was captured on body camera footage, according to the complaint.

Garces-Perez made his initial court appearance before U. S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell.

A detention hearing is scheduled for October 2. If convicted, Garces-Perez could face up to 20 years in federal prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.

S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja is prosecuting the case.

The U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.