Jose Walter Nieto-Castellanos, a 31-year-old Honduran national, was sentenced on March 12 after pleading guilty to assaulting a United States Border Patrol agent, according to a March 19 announcement by United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Nieto-Castellanos was found guilty of forcibly obstructing and impeding a federal officer during an incident that took place on October 14, 2025. The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address crimes involving individuals unlawfully present in the United States.
Court documents show that law enforcement officers identified a vehicle linked to someone believed to be in the country illegally during operations in Gretna, Louisiana. When officers attempted a traffic stop for immigration-related enforcement, Nieto-Castellanos tried to evade them and resisted commands when stopped. He physically resisted removal from his vehicle and the application of handcuffs before being restrained.
United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced Nieto-Castellanos to time served—amounting to four and a half months imprisonment—followed by one year of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. After sentencing, he was transferred into the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for removal proceedings back to Honduras.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to combat illegal immigration and related criminal activity through coordinated efforts among Department of Justice initiatives such as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter.
