A 37-year-old man, Mark Anthony Garcia Jr., has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for the aggravated assault of a federal officer with a deadly weapon. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Garcia pleaded guilty on September 28, 2023, following an incident on December 1, 2022, at his residence. Law enforcement officers approached Garcia's home at approximately 9 p.m., knocking loudly and announcing their presence. After receiving no response, authorities attempted to force entry through the front door, which was barricaded with a couch.
Upon entry, law enforcement officers heard two gunshots from a back room. In close proximity to the officers, the shots posed a serious threat to their safety. The officers immediately exited the residence and began negotiations with Garcia, who admitted to having a firearm and threatening to use it.
Despite several hours of negotiations, Garcia fired at least five more gunshots from the back bedroom. In response, authorities deployed tear gas into the residence, successfully removing Garcia from the premises and taking him into custody.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has ordered Garcia to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, the location of which will be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation into the incident.
