Erik Alberto Beal, a 28-year-old resident of Nogales, Arizona, was 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 the border illegally near Beal’s home in Nogales. As the agents searched the area around his 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 at the animal.
According to court records, Beal then 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 on Beal. At that point, Beal put down his gun.
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office led the investigation with support from Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah Schmit and Serra Tsethlikai prosecuted the case.
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