A federal grand jury in Chicago has charged six people in connection with an incident in which a crowd allegedly blocked and battered a government vehicle transporting a federal immigration agent in a Chicago suburb on Sept. 26, 2025. The indictment includes a conspiracy count and several individual charges tied to efforts to stop the vehicle from reaching an ICE facility. Officials from the Department of Justice and the FBI issued stern statements condemning the conduct and pledged accountability. Arraignments are set for Nov. 5, 2025.
The indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court in Chicago says the defendants surrounded a government vehicle with the intent to hinder and impede the driver, a federal agent, from proceeding to a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., on Sept. 26, 2025. Prosecutors allege the group acted together as part of a conspiracy, using force and intimidation to stop a lawful federal operation. Those actions are described as criminal interference with federal law enforcement.
“No one is above the law and no one has the right to obstruct it,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Federal agents perform dangerous, essential work every single day to enforce our immigration laws and keep our communities safe. When individuals resort to force or intimidation to interfere with that mission, they attack not only the agents themselves but the rule of law they represent. The Department of Justice will never tolerate such conduct and will continue to hold accountable anyone who seeks to impede lawful federal operations.”
Video evidence reviewed by prosecutors shows people allegedly crowded at the front and side of the government vehicle, standing directly in its path, banging on the car and windows, and pushing against it to hinder or stop its movement. The recorded footage is a central piece of the case and is cited in the indictment as demonstrating coordinated interference. The clip has been cited publicly by officials as proof of forcible obstruction rather than lawful protest.
Prosecutors say the conspirators broke one of the vehicle’s side mirrors and damaged the rear windshield wiper, and that someone etched a derogatory message into the vehicle’s body. Those acts are detailed in the indictment as further evidence of intent to intimidate and disable the transport. Damage to government property figures into both the criminal and investigative assessments.
“All federal officials must be able to discharge the duties of their office without confronting force, intimidation, or threats,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “As we have warned repeatedly, we will seek to hold accountable those who cross the line from peaceful protests to unlawful actions or conspiracies that interrupt, hinder, or impede the due administration of Justice. The rule of law must always be upheld.”
Charged with conspiracy to impede a U.S. law enforcement officer and with individual counts of impeding a U.S. law enforcement officer are Michael Rabbitt, 62, of Chicago; Katherine Marie Abughazaleh, 26, of Chicago; Andre Martin, 27, of Providence, R.I.; Catherine Sharp, 29, of Chicago; Brian Straw, 38, of Oak Park, Ill.; and Joselyn Walsh, 31, of Chicago. Those names and identifying details are included in the indictment filed in federal court. Arraignments are scheduled for Nov. 5, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain.
Deputy Attorney General Blanche and U.S. Attorney Boutros announced the charges alongside Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “The FBI has zero tolerance for forcible criminal conduct against law enforcement officers engaged in their lawful functions,” said FBI SAC DePodesta. “Impeding federal officers performing their duties or conspiring to do so are criminal offenses. The people of Chicagoland deserve safe communities and peaceful streets and the FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who undermine the rule of law through criminal activity.”
If you recognize other individuals in the video who may be impeding law enforcement, authorities ask that you contact the FBI Chicago Field Office with any tips or information you may have. Law enforcement officials say community cooperation can be crucial to identifying additional participants and clarifying the sequence of events. Anyone with relevant evidence is encouraged to come forward to help the investigation.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.
