A Mexican national, Cristian Geovanni Rojas Benitez, 37, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for using a vehicle to assault and interfere with a federal agent. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney David Metcalf and handed down by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer.
Rojas Benitez had overstayed his visa and remained illegally in the United States. He pleaded guilty in October after being charged by indictment in August of the previous year. During his plea hearing, he admitted to intentionally driving his pickup truck toward a federal agent.
According to court documents, on June 23, 2025, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other federal officers were attempting to take Rojas Benitez into administrative custody for violating conditions of his immigration release. These violations included a conviction in Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas for false identification to law enforcement, operating a vehicle without ignition interlock, possession of a controlled substance, and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Federal officers surveilled a residence in Downingtown, Pennsylvania based on information they received. At around 8:30 a.m., Rojas Benitez left the residence and got into his pickup truck. When he attempted to drive away, officers conducted a vehicle stop.
Rojas Benitez did not comply with commands from the officers to exit the vehicle or roll down his window. An HSI agent moved in front of the truck to maintain visibility while officers warned that if he did not comply they would break the window. After repeated warnings went unheeded, one officer broke the rear driver’s side window.
The defendant then drove over the sidewalk toward the HSI agent who had to push off from the truck and jump out of its path to avoid being struck. The incident also nearly resulted in hitting a passing school bus.
After fleeing Pennsylvania following this encounter, Rojas Benitez was located by U.S. Marshals Service on July 24, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime,” according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
