Erik Alberto Beal, a 28-year-old resident of Nogales, Arizona, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to assaulting a federal officer. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Angela Martinez.
The incident occurred on April 11, 2024, when two uniformed Border Patrol agents were tracking an individual who had crossed into the United States near Beal’s home in Nogales. As the agents searched the area around Beal’s residence, a pit bull was released from a side door toward one of the agents. The agent responded by drawing his service firearm and shouting.
According to court records, Beal exited his house, retrieved a semi-automatic handgun from his truck, chambered a round, and pointed it at the uniformed agent. A brief standoff followed until the second agent arrived and drew his weapon at Beal. At that point, Beal put down his gun.
The investigation was led by the FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office with support from Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah Schmit and Serra Tsethlikai prosecuted the case.
“The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah Schmit and Serra Tsethlikai, Tucson, handled the prosecution.”
