A Utah couple admitted in court that they used bolt cutters to remove handcuffs and help a suspected illegal immigrant escape from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. Kelzie Ryann Luna, 21, and George Sanchez-Juarez, 22, pleaded guilty to theft, disposal and conversion of government property, and aiding and abetting.
The pair were each sentenced to four days in prison by a U.S. magistrate judge. In addition to the jail time, they were ordered to pay a $600 fine along with $28 in restitution, and must serve six months of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah emphasized that interfering with law enforcement brings severe repercussions. She stated that obstructing ICE operations carries real consequences, including federal charges, imprisonment, and a permanent federal criminal record, noting that individuals who take the law into their own hands will be held accountable.
Court documents and statements from the plea and sentencing hearings show that the incident unfolded on October 8, 2025, when federal agents visited a Salt Lake City Home Depot to arrest four previously deported individuals. As agents took one person into custody, another handcuffed man managed to escape from a vehicle and sprint across the street. Luna and Sanchez-Juarez reportedly assisted the fleeing man by picking him up in a white Volkswagen Golf.
According to federal prosecutors, the defendants subsequently purchased bolt cutters to cut off the handcuffs. They later allegedly boasted about helping the individual evade lawful arrest while directing profanities at ICE. Law enforcement identified Sanchez-Juarez as the driver of the Volkswagen and Luna as the passenger.
Law enforcement officials sharply condemned the interference. Homeland Security Investigations Denver Special Agent in Charge Charles Engle stated that the defendants deliberately impeded officers and attempted to shield someone from the law, undermining public safety and showing a blatant disregard for the rule of law. He added that authorities will use every available tool to hold accountable anyone who impedes federal agents or assists individuals in evading arrest.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd C. Bouton.