An El Paso man pleaded guilty in a New Mexico federal court to attempted murder for shooting a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a human smuggling attempt.
Roberto Esquivel, 25, pleaded guilty Jan. 30 to one count each of attempted murder of an officer of the United States, aggravated assault of an officer of the United States with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, according to federal court records.
The guilty plea was made before U.S. District Court for District of New Mexico Chief Magistrate Judge Gregory B. Wormuth in Las Cruces.
Esquivel was arrested Jan. 5, 2023, and has remained jailed, federal court records show. He will remain jailed until his sentencing.
A date for a sentencing hearing has not been set. A plea agreement filed in federal court states Esquivel and federal prosecutors agreed to a 19-year prison sentence. A federal judge must accept the agreement at a sentencing hearing.
Esquivel was facing up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the attempted murder, aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm charges, the plea agreement states. He was facing 10 years in federal prison on the conspiracy to transport illegal aliens charge. The plea agreement does not state what Esquivel will receive on the conspiracy charge.