A Mexican national, Cristian Geovanni Rojas Benitez, 37, has been indicted in Philadelphia for allegedly assaulting a federal agent with a vehicle while the agent was performing official duties. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Rojas Benitez had overstayed his visa and remained in the United States illegally.
The indictment claims that on June 23, 2025, Rojas Benitez used a full-size pickup truck to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with a special agent from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The incident occurred as federal officers were attempting to take him into administrative custody due to violations of his release conditions pending removal proceedings.
Court documents state that officers surveilled a residence in Downingtown, Pennsylvania after receiving information about Rojas Benitez’s location. At approximately 8:30 a.m., he left the residence and entered his pickup truck. Federal officers stopped the vehicle shortly after he began driving away.
According to court filings, Rojas Benitez did not follow commands to exit the vehicle or lower his window. During this encounter, an HSI agent moved in front of the vehicle for better visibility. Officers warned Rojas Benitez that failure to comply would result in his window being broken; after multiple warnings and continued noncompliance, an officer broke the rear driver’s side window.
The indictment alleges that Rojas Benitez then put the truck in drive and drove over the sidewalk toward the HSI agent. The agent reportedly pushed off the truck with his hand and jumped out of its path to avoid being struck. The defendant also allegedly came close to hitting a passing school bus before fleeing Pennsylvania. He was later found by U.S. Marshals Service agents in Washington, D.C., on July 24.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)," according to U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
The investigation involved HSI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Authorities emphasize that charges contained in an indictment are accusations only; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
