A Guatemalan national, Manolo Morales Lopez, 29, has been charged in federal court in Boston for allegedly resisting and assaulting federal officers during an immigration arrest. Prosecutors said Morales Lopez faces one count of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers while they performed their official duties.
According to the complaint, on September 12, 2025, agents attempted to arrest a woman for violating immigration laws in Woburn, Massachusetts. During the incident, Morales Lopez allegedly interfered by holding onto the woman’s arm as agents tried to remove her from a car. After being warned that he could be arrested for interfering with the process, agents tried to remove him from the vehicle. The complaint states that after being taken out of the car, Morales Lopez raised his arm over an agent’s head and grabbed him around the neck from behind. The agent avoided being put into a choke hold or headlock by ducking under Morales Lopez’s arm. It is further alleged that Morales Lopez continued to struggle and resist as agents attempted to handcuff him.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to eight years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
“The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
