BREAKING: A federal grand jury has just indicted three women for allegedly livestreaming the chase of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent to his home, revealing his address online. This shocking incident occurred on August 28, 2023, and has raised serious concerns about the safety of law enforcement personnel.
The indictment charges Cynthia Raygoza, 37, from Riverside, California; Ashleigh Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colorado; and Sandra Carmona Samane, 25, from Panorama City, California, with conspiracy and publicly disclosing a federal agent’s personal information. U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California confirmed the details in a statement released on September 29, 2023.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli expressed outrage over the defendants’ actions, stating,
“Our brave federal agents put their lives on the line every day to keep our nation safe. The conduct of these defendants is deeply offensive to law enforcement officers and their families.”
On the day of the incident, the women followed the ICE agent from his workplace in downtown Los Angeles to his residence, broadcasting the pursuit live via Instagram accounts associated with anti-ICE sentiments. They reportedly urged viewers to share their livestream as they shouted messages to neighbors about the agent’s identity, declaring, “your neighbor is ICE.”
Following this alarming act, the trio posted the agent’s address online, inviting others to “come on down.” This behavior has sparked widespread condemnation and highlights the risks faced by federal agents today.
Ashleigh Brown and Sandra Carmona Samane were arrested, with Brown facing additional charges for allegedly assaulting a federal officer. Brown remains in custody without bond, while Samane was released on a $5,000 bond. Their arraignments are scheduled for September 30, 2023, and October 9, 2023, respectively. Meanwhile, Raygoza is currently at large.
This indictment comes amid heightened tensions surrounding ICE, especially following a recent shooting incident in Dallas where one detainee was killed, and two others were injured. The Department of Homeland Security reported a staggering 830% increase in attacks on ICE agents since the beginning of 2023, underscoring the increasingly dangerous climate for law enforcement.
If convicted, each defendant faces a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison for each count. Authorities are making it clear that threats against federal agents will not be tolerated.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as it unfolds.
