A tow truck driver in Los Angeles has been hit with federal charges after brazenly towing a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle that was left unattended.
Bobby Nunez, 33, was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 2, and charged with theft of government property. He made an initial appearance this week at the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Nunez is accused of stealing government property by illegally towing a vehicle, which immigration officers were using during an arrest last month.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli shared footage of the original incident and Nunez’s arrest on social media, commenting: “How it started vs. How it’s going.”
How it started vs. How it’s going
ARRESTED: Bobby Nunez is now under arrest for brazenly towing an ICE vehicle. He is charged with theft of government property.
Apparently he thought it would be funny to interfere with our immigration enforcement operations. Now he can laugh… pic.twitter.com/6LbjCwdcBP— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) September 2, 2025
On Aug. 15, Nunez allegedly interfered with federal officers trying to make an immigration arrest in downtown Los Angeles, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California.
The incident occurred near the exit of a luxury apartment complex’s parking structure, where Nunez also reportedly lives. ICE agents were there to arrest Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, 23, an illegal immigrant from Colombia residing in downtown Los Angeles.
The video at the parking garage shows a chaotic scene as agents tried to arrest the illegal immigrant. At the same time, an officer was seen trying to chase down the tow truck on foot.
Essayli added: “Apparently, he thought it would be funny to interfere with our immigration enforcement operations. Now he can laugh behind bars while he faces justice. Nunez is looking at up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.”
Nunez was allegedly laughing and filming as he towed the federal vehicle, according to a federal criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital.
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin offered more details, writing on X: “Nunez was laughing and recording the ICE agents on his phone while he towed their vehicle away in LA, which had the keys and a weapon in a gun safe inside. HSI used TikTok to track him down.”
NEW: According to the criminal complaint, which was signed off on by a federal judge, Nunez was laughing and recording the ICE agents on his phone while he towed their vehicle away in LA , which had the keys and a weapon in a gun safe inside. HSI used TikTok to track him down. https://t.co/I09b0VRKs3
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 2, 2025
According to the criminal complaint, the officers used two law enforcement vehicles to box in Mafla-Martinez’s vehicle and prevent her from escaping. Both government vehicles had their emergency lights activated during the encounter.
A struggle ensued as officers tried to arrest Mafla-Martinez. Nunez, a bystander, approached Martinez’s vehicle and starting pushing the passenger side door of her vehicle on an officer, according to court documents.
The officers threatened Nunez with arrest and told him they were conducting a federal investigation. Nunez then swore at the officers and told them “Something was going to happen” to them.
A second man then came up to Martinez’s vehicle to interfere with the arrests. While officers talked to this man, Nunez got into his Dodge tow truck and allegedly towed one of the government vehicles that was blocking Martinez’s vehicle.
The vehicle had its keys inside and a firearm locked in a safe inside it as well.
Nunez’s tow truck was found two days later parked in an assigned parking space in the same luxury apartment complex where the incident occurred; however, officials only arrested Nunez on Tuesday, FOX8 WGHP reported.
Videos posted to TikTok reportedly helped Homeland Security Investigations track Nunez down.
If convicted, Nunez would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Assistant United States Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Despite ongoing ICE enforcement in Los Angeles, tensions between anti-immigration activists and the federal government remain high. But ICE and Border Patrol aren’t backing down.
Gregory Bovino, Border Patrol Commander Operation At Large in Los Angeles, announced on Tuesday that Operation At Large is expanding.
He posted a video on X, with the caption: “Now that we have reinforcements, some agents will be staying in L.A. and some will be on the move. Where do you think we’re headed now?”
Operation At Large is expanding! Now that we have reinforcements, some agents will be staying in L.A. and some will be on the move.
Where do you think we’re headed now?
Guess our next destination in the comments below. ⬇️#DHS #CBP #USBP #BorderPatrol #OpAtLarge pic.twitter.com/cJMo7yqpo9
— Commander Op At Large CA Gregory K. Bovino (@CMDROpAtLargeCA) September 2, 2025
On Tuesday, a federal judge issued an injunction against the Trump administration regarding its use of the National Guard in Los Angeles. The judge ruled President Donald Trump broke the law when he deployed the National Guard to quell anti-ICE protests in June.
But Essayli, appearing earlier this week on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” said the military will remain in Los Angeles.
He also responded to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s trolling on social media. Newsom posted to X on Tuesday: “DONALD TRUMP LOSES AGAIN. The courts agree — his militarization of our streets and use of the military against US citizens is ILLEGAL.”
Essayli reshared the post and wrote on X: “This is a false narrative and a misleading injunction. The military has never engaged in direct law enforcement operations here in LA. They protect our federal employees our properties so our federal agents can safely enforce federal laws in the face of the thugs being unleashed and encouraged by state and local politicians.”
The military will remain in Los Angeles. This is a false narrative and a misleading injunction. The military has never engaged in direct law enforcement operations here in LA. They protect our federal employees our properties so our federal agents can safely enforce federal laws… https://t.co/uNSFoXrxWb
— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) September 2, 2025
