Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco, 30, a citizen of Venezuela residing illegally in Bellevue, Nebraska, was charged on June 19, 2025, by criminal complaint with one count of attempted murder of a federal officer and one count of assault of a federal officer with infliction of bodily injury.
Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation possessed an active immigration-related warrant for Hurtado-Cariaco’s arrest and encountered him in Sarpy County near his residence while he was driving. The agents initiated a traffic stop with lights and sirens.
Hurtado-Cariaco pulled over and exited his vehicle with his arms raised. The agents gave instructive commands to Hurtado-Cariaco and attempted to place him in handcuffs.
According to the complaint, Hurtado-Cariaco, a suspected member of Tren de Aragua, began to fight with a special agent, and both landed on the ground. Hurtado-Cariaco was able to throw the agent off him, launching the agent through the air, resulting in the agent forcefully striking their head and elbow on the pavement, injuring them.
A second special agent engaged with Hurtado-Cariaco to subdue and detain him.
Hurtado-Cariaco resisted, with both landing on the ground. While both agents tried to control Hurtado-Cariaco while on the ground, he manoeuvred behind the injured agent and placed that agent in a chokehold.
Hurtado-Cariaco ignored commands from the other agent and continued to choke the agent on the ground. The second agent placed Hurtado-Cariaco in a chokehold to stop the assault.
Hurtado-Cariaco released his chokehold on the agent and then used his leverage to break away from the second agent and ran. The agents pursued Hurtado-Cariaco on foot, locating him at his apartment in Bellevue and arresting him without further incident.
After the arrest, the injured agent was transported to the hospital for treatment.
“Deadly violence against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated by this Department of Justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We have charged this illegal alien with attempted murder.”
“The arrest and prosecution of this vicious Tren de Aragua gang member underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our law enforcement officers in the line of duty,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Violent attacks from terrorists against those who serve our communities will be met with swift and decisive justice.”
“Violence against federal law enforcement officers in the line of duty will not be tolerated in Nebraska,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods.
Hurtado-Cariaco appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Carson on June 20, 2025. Magistrate Judge Carson ordered the defendant detained and set a preliminary and detention hearing for June 24, 2025.
A criminal complaint is a charging document that contains one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. Hurtado-Cariaco was arrested on June 18, 2025, in Sarpy County, Nebraska.
