Phoenix Man Receives 10-Year Sentence for Striking BP Agent During Arrest

A Phoenix-area man has been sentenced to ten years in prison following his conviction for assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a traffic stop. Michael Leroy Witt, 56, received the sentence after a jury found him guilty of multiple felonies, including assault on a federal officer, conspiracy, and alien smuggling.

The incident occurred on February 20, 2023, when Border Patrol Agent Thomas Gonzalez noticed a heavily tinted black Chevrolet Sonic driving erratically on State Route 82. The vehicle was later determined to be registered in Tucson and was previously flagged for transporting unauthorized individuals. After observing the vehicle cross the highway’s traffic lines and slow to an unsafe speed, Gonzalez initiated a traffic stop.

Despite Gonzalez’s orders to stop, Witt initially slowed down but then attempted to evade capture. When the agent approached the vehicle, Witt allegedly accelerated, dragging Gonzalez alongside as he attempted to shut off the ignition. Gonzalez managed to punch Witt and turn off the car, bringing it to a stop after the ordeal.

Inside the vehicle, Gonzalez discovered two unauthorized migrants, Anthony Juarez-Francisco and Nelson Gabriel Olivera-Antonio, who later testified against Witt. Both men revealed they had paid significant sums for smuggling services to enter the U.S. illegally.

During a sentencing hearing on December 17, U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker sentenced Witt to 120 months for each count, with the sentences to be served concurrently. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer H. Berman and Ryan P. DeJoe in Tucson.