A Los Angeles tow truck driver faces a federal charge after allegedly towing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle during an Aug. 15 arrest operation.
Bobby Nunez, accused of laughing and filming as he hauled away the ICE vehicle, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to a federal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital. Agents had been attempting to arrest an undocumented immigrant at the time, with their emergency lights activated and vehicles boxing in the target.
“Apparently he thought it would be funny to interfere with our immigration enforcement operations. Now he can laugh behind bars while he faces justice. Nunez is looking at up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted,” Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli posted to X on Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Nunez also swung open the passenger door of the suspect’s car, striking an officer, as a chaotic scene unfolded. A viral video posted by Rep. Bill Essayli (R-Calif.) showed the immigrant being arrested while another officer chased the tow truck on foot.
Homeland Security Investigations later identified Nunez with the help of TikTok videos, authorities said. The complaint was signed off by United States Magistrate Judge Stephanie Christensen.
The arrest comes amid heightened tensions in Los Angeles, where a federal judge this week said the Trump administration deploying the National Guard to quell June’s anti-ICE protests was illegal, despite the fact that Guard units have been deployed to quell riots many times over the decades.
Also, for his part, Essayli ripped the federal court’s ruling, stating that the presumption that military units were enforcing laws was bogus and incorrect.
“The military will remain in Los Angeles. This is a false narrative and a misleading injunction. The military has never engaged in direct law enforcement operations here in LA,” Essayli replied. “They protect our federal employees our properties so our federal agents can safely enforce federal laws in the face of the thugs being unleashed and encouraged by state and local politicians.”
