By Mike Stunson
The Kansas City Star
LANSING, Mich. — A driver intentionally brake-checked border patrol agents transporting 15 illegal immigrants in Michigan — and he wasn’t done, federal officials say.
Accused of flipping off the agents in the first of two border patrol vehicles he passed while driving July 7 on Interstate 96 , the driver “abruptly” drove in front of the leading vehicle in his BMW sedan, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of Michigan .
Despite there being nothing in the roadway causing him to brake, the driver began to decrease in speed, forcing both drivers behind him to slam on their brakes, according to the FBI .
The 30-year-old stuck his middle finger out the window, according to the court records, which said he returned to a normal speed as he went back to the left lane. The border agents hadn’t seen the last of him, however.
The border agents were driving around 70 mph when they saw the BMW driver begin to decrease his speed. Just before agents were about to pass the driver, he “abruptly cut into the center lane in front of the Border Patrol transport van without signaling,” authorities said.
Both drivers, once again, were forced to slam on their brakes to avoid a crash, according to the criminal complaint. That caused the migrants to slam against the walls of the van.
The BMW sped away, but not before one of the border agents took a photo of the license plate, helping identify the driver, authorities said.
Federal agents interviewed the driver at his home July 30 . He said he “flicked off” the drivers, according to the federal agents, but denied brake-checking them.
Authorities said the border agents were taking the 15 migrants to the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin.
The driver was charged with interfering with border patrol agents, according to a news release. He was released from jail on bond and is due in court Aug. 25.
United States Attorney Jerome F . Gorgon Jr. referred to the actions as “shameful” and said the driver “cavalierly endangered” the lives of the agents and migrants.
“Interfering with a federal agent performing their official duties is a serious criminal offense and will not be tolerated,” Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said in an Aug. 4 news release. “The alleged actions ... were not only reckless, but endangered lives and compromised public safety.”
©2025 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
