A federal inmate has been indicted in the Eastern District of Texas, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Juan Arturo Mendoza, aged 32, is facing charges of assault and resisting or impeding a federal correctional officer.
The indictment claims that on November 13, 2024, Mendoza was involved in a physical altercation with two corrections officers at a Bureau of Prisons facility in Beaumont, Texas. The incident reportedly resulted in bodily injuries to the officers.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation leverages resources from the Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mendoza could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
The FBI is investigating this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James handling the prosecution.
It is important to note that a federal indictment does not equate to guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
