Two immigration agents have been placed on leave after appearing to make "untruthful statements" aboutan encounter in Minneapolis last month that authorities described as violent, a federal official said Friday.
In a statement, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons said the agents could be fired and criminally charged after the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota completes an investigation into the matter.
"Lying under oath is a serious federal offense," he said.
The announcement came two days after a federal prosecutor in Minnesota sought to dismiss criminal charges against the men, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna.
A filing from the U.S. Attorney's Office cited newly discovered evidence that he says is “materially inconsistent” with preliminary hearing testimony and an affidavit filed Jan. 16 against Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna.
The motion sought to dismiss the charges with prejudice, indicating they cannot be refiled. A judge granted the request Friday.
A lawyer for Sosa-Celis called the government's motion "extraordinary" and said his client is relieved.
"Nevertheless, he is determined to seek justice and hold the ICE officer accountable for his unlawful conduct," said the lawyer, Robin Wolpert, in an email.
Sosa-Celis plans to cooperate with an investigation by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Wolpert said.
Frederick Goetz, an attorney for Aljorna, told NBC News in a phone call Friday that his client "is absolutely delighted" by the dismissal of the charges.
Source: Drudge Report
