A Mexican national, Victor Vivanco-Reyes, appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle charged with two counts of assault on a federal officer. The charges were announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Vivanco-Reyes, 25, was sought by a team from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, and Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO) due to his criminal convictions and illegal status in the United States. He remains detained pending a hearing scheduled for June 13, 2025.
The criminal complaint details that on May 22, 2025, HSI Special Agents attempted to locate Vivanco-Reyes in Mount Vernon, Washington. Upon finding his vehicle in a residential area, agents activated their lights and sirens to stop him. After briefly pausing at a driveway, Vivanco-Reyes sped away at high speed through the residential area. Due to reckless driving and community risk, agents ceased their arrest attempt.
On June 6, 2025, agents again attempted to locate him. At around 9:30 am on Camano Island, Washington, they found a work truck associated with his employer towing a trailer on Cascade View Drive. Federal agents used three vehicles to block lanes for his capture. When lights were activated, the truck accelerated toward one vehicle hitting it on the front passenger side before crashing head-on into another government car further down the road. The truck continued into a ditch hitting a power pole; Vivanco-Reyes fled on foot but was captured.
Two agents injured in the collisions were taken to hospitals.
Assaulting a federal agent with a deadly weapon carries up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Charges are allegations; individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case which is prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
