ICE arrested Bean Gomez-Cepeda, a Dominican national, in San Juan, Puerto Rico on July 2 after he was charged with assaulting federal agents. The arrest followed an incident on June 30, when ICE agents stopped the vehicle Gomez-Cepeda was driving. According to officials, Gomez-Cepeda attempted to evade arrest by driving his vehicle into a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) vehicle. He and five other occupants of the car, all unlawfully present in the United States, were taken into custody.
Gomez-Cepeda had previously been processed for expedited removal by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, Texas in 2023.
He faces two counts: resisting, opposing or impeding federal agents with a dangerous weapon—which carries up to one year in jail, up to five years of probation, and a fine up to $100,000—and hitting a government vehicle with his own vehicle, which carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
ICE officials have reported that assaults against their personnel have increased by 830% compared to this time last year.
“Now more than ever, we need to protect the lives of the brave men and women of ICE and our partner agencies while they are doing their job to keep our nation safe,” said HSI San Juan Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos. “Our agency and the Department of Justice are taking these crimes very seriously as we stand by our agents to ensure their safety. Those who interfere with the execution of our job or dare to assault our agents will be prosecuted with the fullest extent of the law.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Violent Crimes Division Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar E. Rivera Díaz are prosecuting the case.
Authorities remind the public that an indictment is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
If members of the public witness law enforcement officials in danger or want to report illegal activity, they can call 787-729-6969 or email IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov for more information about HSI San Juan’s work in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
