A federal grand jury indicted U.S. Border Patrol agent Eduardo Prat on Mar. 27 for allegedly assaulting a handcuffed detainee and later attempting to conceal evidence related to the incident.
The charges highlight ongoing concerns about accountability and oversight in law enforcement agencies, especially when it comes to interactions with individuals in custody.
According to court records, Prat, age 40, is accused of strangling an individual identified as John Doe while performing his official duties in Doña Ana County, New Mexico on May 22, 2023. The indictment alleges that John Doe was handcuffed at the time of the assault. In addition, between May 22 and June 12, 2023, Prat allegedly concealed and covered up a body camera recording of the incident.
Prat faces charges in federal court for deprivation of rights under color of law as well as destruction or falsification of records during a federal investigation. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to twenty years in prison. He is currently released under conditions pending trial; no trial date has been set.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison announced the indictment and said multiple agencies were involved in investigating the case: U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility led the investigation with support from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, FBI Albuquerque Field Office’s Las Cruces Resident Agency, and U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector. The Las Cruces Branch Office will prosecute the case.
Officials remind that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
