Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A resident of South Deerfield has been arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting a federal agent during the execution of a search warrant. The incident is connected to an investigation by the U.S. Capitol Police. According to authorities, the defendant, James Gerard Pepe III, also known as "Judith Pepe," allegedly spat in the face and eye of an agent during a residential search.
Pepe, aged 25, faces one count of assaulting a federal officer. He was taken into custody on January 4, 2025, and after appearing in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts, he was released under certain conditions.
The charging document states that on February 4, 2025, federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at a bedroom inside an apartment in South Deerfield. This location was believed to be used by someone involved in a U.S. Capitol Police investigation. Pepe reportedly lived in the same apartment where the targeted room was located.
During the search operation, Pepe was instructed to sit unhandcuffed in a kitchen chair. It is alleged that he soon became visibly agitated and directed profanity and threats at the agents present. Despite being warned to remain calm or face being handcuffed, Pepe's aggressive behavior reportedly continued. Subsequently placed in handcuffs, Pepe allegedly spat at an escorting agent while being led out of the apartment.
The charge of assaulting a federal officer carries potential penalties including up to eight years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Division announced these developments today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Barnico Jr., from the Springfield Branch Office, is handling the prosecution.
It should be noted that all details contained within the charging document are allegations at this stage. The defendant remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
