U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada | U.S. Department of Justice
A deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has agreed to plead guilty to a federal civil rights violation. The charge stems from an incident where the deputy used excessive force against a transgender man, reportedly in retaliation for the victim exercising his First Amendment rights.
Joseph Benza III, 36, was charged with one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law. He has agreed to plead guilty to this offense, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Benza is expected to appear in federal court soon.
The victim, identified as "E.B." in court documents, suffered injuries including a concussion and abrasions during the February 2023 incident. United States Attorney Martin Estrada commented on the case: “When an officer violates someone’s civil rights, it corrodes trust in law enforcement and undermines the effectiveness of other officers who sacrifice to protect the public.”
Akil Davis from the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office stated that Benza abused his authority and attempted to cover up his actions during the investigation. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna expressed concern over Benza's actions, stating they undermine community trust and departmental integrity.
According to Benza's plea agreement, he was responding to a domestic violence call when he saw E.B., who gestured at him with a middle finger—a gesture protected by free speech rights. In response, Benza followed E.B.'s vehicle for nearly two miles before confronting him violently without issuing any commands.
Benza later prepared a false incident report omitting key details about the confrontation and made false claims about E.B.'s actions. He also discussed deleting text messages related to the incident with other deputies and considered making false statements during investigations.
The FBI continues its investigation into this matter with assistance from LASD. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Susan S. Har and J. Jamari Buxton.
