On Monday, Alejandro Nathaniel Rodriguez Stalter, 31, of Casa Grande, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 13 years in prison. Stalter previously pleaded guilty to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer and one count of Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.

In August 2020, Stalter fled an immigration checkpoint at a high rate of speed with two undocumented noncitizen passengers inside his car. United States Border Patrol (USBP) agents pursued Stalter for approximately 20 miles until his vehicle collided with a stationary object. Once the vehicle was disabled, a USBP agent approached the vehicle, identified himself as a law enforcement agent and tried to open Stalter’s door. As he tried to open the car door, Stalter shot at the agent through the driver’s side window with an AR-15 style assault rifle. The agent took cover, returned fire, and injured Stalter, who ultimately surrendered.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Coleen Schoch, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.