A federal judge in Arizona sentenced an Arizona human smuggler for firing at a Border Patrol agent while trying to flee from immigration checkpoints. As he tried to open his car’s door, the man opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle.
U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza sentenced Alejandro Nathaniel Rodriguez Stalter (31-year-old) to 13 years federal prison for his shooting at a Border Patrol agent. Stalter pleaded guilty previously to assaulting a federal agent and another charge of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Breitbart Texas obtained federal court records that show that Border Patrol agents at the FR-15 Highway Immigration checkpoint saw a Dodge Charger coming towards them for inspection. Stalter left the checkpoint at an extremely high speed after an agent conducted an immigration interview with two passengers later found to be illegally present in the United States.
Border Patrol agents followed the human smuggling vehicle approximately 20 miles before the driver stopped. According to the criminal complaint, shots were heard inside the vehicle as a Border Patrol agent tried to reach the driver’s door.
Stalter was hit multiple times by the agent who ran for cover. Stalter was taken to the hospital by an ambulance.
The complaint claims that agents identified the passengers as illegal immigrants. They were taken to Casa Grande Station by agents for processing.
Agents were told by one of the migrants that he had paid $11,000 for his smuggling into the United States. They were provided with fake identification cards by Mexican smugglers to use at immigration checkpoints.
Agents were told by the migrant that he saw the AR-15-style rifle lying on Stalter’s lap during the pursuit. Both migrants claimed that Salter fired the weapon at an agent as he approached the vehicle.
Stalter pleaded guilty to the April Assault of Federal Officer (Border Patrol Agent) and one county of Discharge of Firearm during a Crime of Violence. According to court documents, the mandatory 10-year sentence for firearms enhancement (18 USC924(c)) runs concurrently with the assault conviction.
Judge ordered that the assault charge be held for 36 months and the firearms enhancement for 120 months. These terms are consecutive. The judge has ordered that Stalter will be released from prison and that he will receive 26 months of supervised release.
As part of the plea deal, Stalter was also cleared of two other charges.
