E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
A Russian national, Maksim Zaitsev, has been charged with assaulting a federal employee resulting in bodily injury. The incident occurred after his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in downtown Los Angeles. Zaitsev, 35, from Costa Mesa, allegedly bit an officer on the left pinky finger during an attempt to escort him for processing. The bite reportedly broke the skin, drew blood, and fractured the finger.
Zaitsev is set to appear today in the United States District Court in Los Angeles. Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally emphasized the importance of ICE officers' role in national security and public safety, stating that "as alleged in the felony criminal complaint, the defendant attacked a deportation officer. He will be held accountable for his actions."
The affidavit related to the complaint details that on February 25, two ICE officers arrested Zaitsev under an administrative warrant issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. During his transfer through a hallway, Zaitsev resisted and became agitated before biting one of the officers.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service is leading the investigation into this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Guzman from the General Crimes Section is handling the prosecution.
It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If convicted, Zaitsev could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
