Venezuelan National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Pleads Guilty to Damaging Government Vehicle

PORTLAND, Ore.— Yesterday, Luis Nino-Moncada, 33, a Venezuelan national unlawfully residing in the United States, pleaded guilty to felony Depredation of Government Property, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. According to court documents, on January 8, 2026, Nino-Moncada drove into the parking lot of Adventist Health Portland in a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Nino-Moncada had a female passenger in the truck. After Nino-Moncada parked, a Border Patrol agent parked his government black Hyundai Sonata behind the Toyota Tacoma. Six Border Patrol agents exited their vehicles and surrounded the Toyota Tacoma in an effort to arrest defendant and the female passenger because they were unlawfully in the country. Nino-Moncada believed they were “ICE” agents. Then, Nino-Moncada began forcefully ramming his pickup truck, by backing up and striking the black Hyundai several times. Nino-Moncada’s conduct placed others at risk of serious bodily injury, and Nino-Moncada was conscious of or recklessly disregarded that risk. When Nino-Moncada was ramming into the Hyundai Sonata, a federal officer fired his service weapon at him. The Hyundai Sonata was declared a total loss. Nino-Moncada faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. As part of the plea agreement, Nino-Moncada has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $24,413.00. He also admitted he is not a U.S. citizen, is present in the United States illegally, and is subject to an order of removal entered by an Immigration Judge in November 2024. He will be sentenced September 16, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (H.S.I.). The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.