Source: Office of United States Attorneys
LOS ANGELES – A Russian national was charged today in a federal criminal complaint alleging he bit and injured an immigration officer who had detained and arrested him on Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles.
Maksim Zaitsev, 35, of Costa Mesa, is charged with assault on a federal employee resulting in bodily injury.
Zaitsev is expected to make his initial appearance today in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
“The men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are critical to protecting national security and public safety and upholding the rule law,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “As alleged in the felony criminal complaint, the defendant attacked a deportation officer. He will be held accountable for his actions.”
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on the morning of February 25, two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers announced themselves and arrested Zaitsev pursuant to an administrative arrest warrant issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
After handcuffing Zaitsev, the officers attempted to escort him to be processed. Zaitsev became agitated while the agents walked him through a hallway. Zaitsev then resisted. While the officers attempted to regain control of him, Zaitsev bit one officer on the left pinky finger. The bite broke skin, drew blood, and broke the finger.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Zaitsev would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Guzman of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.