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The federal prosecutor for the District of Nevada, Sigal Chattah, issued a zero-tolerance warning on Wednesday against those who assault federal agents at airports, following the guilty plea of a Cuban citizen accused of attacking security officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
"We will not tolerate any type of violence and/or interference against or with our TSA or CBP agents and officers at any airport in this district," Chattah wrote on her X account. "Congratulations to my team for this swift resolution," she added while commenting on the judicial outcome of the case.
The accused, identified as Jhon Raúl Vizcaíno Ramírez, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to five federal charges related to an altercation that occurred on November 3, 2025, in a security control area of the airport.
According to court documents, the Cuban attempted to access the restricted boarding area using a boarding pass issued in someone else's name for a flight to Rochester, New York.
The authorities indicated that when agents from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requested valid identification, Vizcaíno Ramírez displayed a passport inside a plastic bag but refused to hand it over for verification.
The situation escalated quickly when the officers tried to retrieve the boarding pass. According to the accusation, the man struck a TSA agent in the head and ripped off their glasses.
The incident continued after the arrival of officers from the Metropolitan Police of Las Vegas. Court records indicate that Vizcaíno Ramírez struggled with several officers, causing one of them to fall, and managed to snatch a pen from an agent, which he allegedly attempted to use to assault the police.
As a result of the confrontation, at least one officer sustained injuries and required medical attention.
The Cuban pleaded guilty to two counts of interfering with TSA security personnel, two counts of assault and resisting individuals assisting law enforcement agents, and one count of entering a restricted area of the airport by deception.
The sentencing is scheduled for September 10 before federal Judge Andrew P. Gordon. Vizcaíno Ramírez faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, in addition to three years of supervised release and a fine that could reach $250,000.
The case also has immigration implications.
According to the authorities, Vizcaíno Ramírez illegally entered the United States from Mexico on October 27, 2022, when he was intercepted by Border Patrol agents near Yuma, Arizona. He was later released due to overcrowding in detention centers and remained in U.S. territory without regular immigration status.
After his arrest for the incident in Las Vegas, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a migration detention order against him, which paves the way for a potential deportation process once the federal criminal proceedings are concluded.
The investigation was carried out by the TSA Office of Investigations and Law Enforcement, with support from the Metropolitan Police Department of Las Vegas, while the prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Snellings.
Chattah's reaction is part of the tough stance promoted by the Trump administration in response to assaults on federal agents and crimes committed in transportation facilities deemed critical to national security.
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