Illegal Alien Sentenced in Georgia to Five Years for Assaulting Federal Officer and Arson

Armando Carrillo-Diaz, 45, an illegal alien from Rioverde, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for assaulting a federal officer, arson, and illegally reentering the United States. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen on June 11, 2025, after Carrillo-Diaz pleaded guilty to the charges on January 29, 2025.

“When illegal aliens resort to extreme and dangerous measures to avoid removal, they not only violate our immigration laws but also put law enforcement officers and the public at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our Office is committed to taking decisive action to hold accountable those who attack law enforcement officers and endanger the community.”

According to information presented in court, the incident began on April 26, 2023, when deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) attempted to arrest Carrillo-Diaz in the parking lot of his apartment complex. Carrillo-Diaz nearly struck one of the officers as he fled the scene in a pickup truck.

When ERO officers later returned to his residence to locate him, Carrillo-Diaz attempted to evade capture by setting his apartment on fire. The fire spread, forcing the Gwinnett County, Georgia, Fire Department to evacuate residents from the building. As officers tried to apprehend him, Carrillo-Diaz then sliced his own throat with a box cutter. The officers immediately rendered medical aid and arranged for his transport to a local hospital.

On June 26, 2024, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned a superseding indictment charging Carrillo-Diaz with Assaulting a Federal Officer, Arson, and Illegally Reentering the United States.

Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama, praised the interagency cooperation. “This conviction sends a strong message to those who think they can evade justice by resorting to dangerous and reckless actions. Thanks to the dedicated collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels, we were able to catch Armando Carrillo-Diaz, an illegal alien, and hold him accountable for his reckless and fiery attempts to evade justice.”

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons added, “Carrillo-Diaz posed a serious threat to law enforcement and the community. Our top priority is working with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”

The case was investigated by ERO, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Gwinnett County Fire Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dash A. Cooper prosecuted the case. Following his prison sentence, Carrillo-Diaz will face one year of supervised release.