(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA) — Bobby Nunez pleaded not guilty in federal court in Los Angeles to one count of theft of government property after prosecutors accused the South Los Angeles tow truck driver of towing an ICE SUV during an immigration enforcement operation downtown.
Nunez, 33, entered the plea on a Monday in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
The single-count federal case carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison if he is convicted.
A tentative trial date of November 18 was set by the court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The charge stems from an encounter around 8 a.m. on August 15 at the exit of the Da Vinci Apartments near downtown Los Angeles, at Temple Street and Fremont Avenue.
Federal officers from ICE and a U.S. Marshal used two government SUVs with their emergency lights activated to box in a vehicle driven by 23‑year‑old Colombian national Tatiana Mafla‑Martinez, also reported as Tatiana Martinez, to prevent her from escaping during an immigration arrest, prosecutors and court filings said.
Court documents written by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Joseph McKenzie describe a struggle to arrest Mafla‑Martinez, who “was not compliant.”
McKenzie wrote that during the struggle Nunez approached and pressed the passenger-side door of Mafla‑Martinez’s vehicle on an ICE officer identified as “J.A.” as he tried to arrest her.
Officer J.A. told Nunez “you’re going to get arrested,” according to McKenzie’s filing.
Another officer told Nunez to stop closing the door on the agent, the filing said.
Prosecutors allege Nunez swore at the officers and told them “something was going to happen” after being told a federal investigation was underway.
As officers turned to deal with a second man identified only as “H.C.” who was also allegedly interfering with the arrest, Nunez allegedly got into his white Dodge tow truck and towed away one of the government SUVs that was boxing in Mafla‑Martinez’s vehicle.
Prosecutors said the SUV had its keys inside and a firearm locked in a safe inside the vehicle at the time.
McKenzie wrote that Officer J.A. chased the tow truck on foot as Nunez was “visibly laughing and recording the running agent on his phone.”
McKenzie said Officer J.A. saw the tow truck turn eastbound on Temple Street before ending the foot pursuit.
Prosecutors said law enforcement later found Nunez’s tow truck parked in an assigned residential space at the same apartment complex a couple of days after the incident.
Authorities identified him as the owner and driver using government records and social media video, including TikTok posts, prosecutors said.
The U.S. Department of Justice and Acting U.S. Attorney for Los Angeles Bilal “Bill” Essayli released and posted video of the incident online.
“Apparently he thought it would be funny to interfere with our immigration enforcement operations. Now he can laugh behind bars while he faces justice,” Essayli wrote on X.
Essayli added, “Nunez is looking at up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Nunez “interfered” with federal officers during the August 15 operation as they arrested Mafla‑Martinez, who the government alleges is in the country illegally.
“Interfering with federal law enforcement officers during the performance of their duties has serious consequences, which the defendant has now discovered,” Eddy Wang, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles, said in a statement.
Wang added that HSI “is committed to bringing swift accountability to all that impede, obstruct or assault federal law enforcement officers.”
Mafla‑Martinez, 23, was the target of the raid, and the Justice Department and local outlets have described her as a “popular influencer” who was livestreaming the immigration enforcement activity on TikTok.
Government documents state she entered the country illegally and had a DUI conviction.
Her attorney, Carlos Jurado, disputed the “illegal” characterization, saying she presented herself at the border three years ago, was processed, allowed entry, and given a work permit.
“We believe, at this point, based on things that have been said to her, is that, because she was out filming ICE activities, she was targeted,” Jurado told ABC7.
The criminal case against Nunez is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California on a single federal count of theft of government property.
The allegation centers on the removal of an ICE SUV that prosecutors said was part of the effort to contain Mafla‑Martinez’s vehicle outside the apartment complex as officers moved in to arrest her.
McKenzie’s filing described officers using two government SUVs with emergency lights activated to box in the vehicle, then encountering resistance as they tried to take Mafla‑Martinez into custody.
Prosecutors said the confrontation escalated as officers warned Nunez and dealt with another man, “H.C.,” who was also alleged to have interfered with the arrest.
Authorities have not described any charge in this case against “H.C.” in the information provided by prosecutors.
In the account laid out by prosecutors and in the court filing, the tow became the central act underpinning the theft of government property count, with the ICE SUV taken while officers were focused on the arrest scene.
The filing described the reaction from Officer J.A., including the foot chase and the detail that Nunez was “visibly laughing and recording the running agent on his phone.”
Prosecutors said investigators later tied the tow truck to Nunez through government records and social media video, including TikTok posts, after the vehicle was located at the Da Vinci Apartments a couple of days after the incident.
Essayli’s remarks on X, posted alongside video released by the Justice Department, framed the case as a response to interference with immigration enforcement.
Wang’s statement also cast the episode as a warning, saying interference with federal officers “has serious consequences” and that HSI “is committed to bringing swift accountability to all that impede, obstruct or assault federal law enforcement officers.”
Nunez’s plea means the charge will now proceed toward the tentative trial date, with prosecutors seeking to prove the theft of government property allegation beyond a reasonable doubt and the defense contesting the government’s case.
If convicted, Nunez faces up to 10 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs released the video and statement online, according to the Justice Department. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) – Office of Public Affairs
Bobby Nunez pleaded not guilty to theft of government property for allegedly towing an ICE SUV during a Los Angeles immigration raid. The incident occurred as officers arrested TikTok influencer Tatiana Mafla-Martinez. Prosecutors claim Nunez mocked officers while obstructing their operation. A trial is set for November 18, where Nunez faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted of the felony charge.
