A federal grand jury in Wichita has indicted a Mexican national for allegedly assaulting a federal law enforcement agent. Diego Barron-Esquivel, 23, from Wichita, faces one count of forcible assault on a federal officer.
Court documents reveal that in February 2025, Barron-Esquivel is accused of attacking and injuring an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer during the performance of official duties. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is handling the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon prosecuting the case.
In related indictments, Charles Wayne Franke, 21, from Wellington, Kansas, has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child-production of child pornography, four counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. HSI is also investigating this case with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart leading the prosecution.
Additionally, Juan Francisco Ulloa-Gonzalez, 46, has been indicted on one count of reentry of a removed alien. This case is under investigation by HSI as well and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon.
These cases are part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project aims to coordinate resources at various levels to apprehend and prosecute offenders exploiting children online while identifying and rescuing victims.
It should be noted that an indictment represents only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
