Federal authorities have charged Anderson Martinez-Montenegro, 28, and Elmer Ortiz-Berduo, 37, both citizens of Guatemala unlawfully present in the United States, with resisting arrest and assaulting federal officers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced the charges following an incident that took place on November 29, 2025.
According to court documents, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were investigating a work site in Salisbury, Maryland when they encountered Martinez-Montenegro and Ortiz-Berduo inside a work truck. Officers attempted to identify the driver who refused to lower his window. As law enforcement began to breach the window, the driver exited the vehicle. Martinez-Montenegro also stepped out from the passenger side but struck one of the officers during detention. Ortiz-Berduo, seated in the rear, tried to flee but was apprehended by officers. He then resisted orders and struck officers while attempting to stab them with taser prongs deployed by law enforcement before being subdued.
Both men face up to one year in federal prison if convicted for assaulting federal officers. Sentencing is determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
“These cases are 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime,” according to officials.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its investigative efforts and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen McGuinn and Victoria Liu as well as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills for prosecuting this case.
Hayes stated: “A complaint is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by complaint are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.”
Further information about priorities and community resources from the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
