In a tragic miscarriage of justice, a federal jury in Los Angeles acquitted 33-year-old tow truck driver Bobby Nunez of theft of government property. The charge stemmed from an August 15, 2025, incident where Nunez towed an unmarked ICE SUV one block away during the arrest of Colombian TikTok influencer Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, a clear attempt to obstruct ICE.
Going after the ICE-attacking tow truck driver, prosecutors called the interaction an interference with an active operation; the defense argued the vehicle blocked a driveway and was quickly returned. After a four-day trial and three hours of deliberation, the jury found him not guilty, prompting conservative criticism of “jury nullification” in a blue city.
Reacting to the disappointing verdict, the U.S. Attorney’s Office issued a statement on the acquittal expressing annoyance, “A jury found Mr. Nuñez not guilty. He was free on bond prior to the trial. We have no further comment,” the document read.
In a breaking post to social media, one conservative quipped, “BREAKING – A leftist jury in Los Angeles has acquitted Bobby Nunez, a South LA tow truck driver who in November towed away an ICE vehicle from an active investigation. You can steal federal officials’ vehicles in California and get away with it now. Incredible.”
In an official statement, Nunez’s legal team, which includes Deputy Federal Public Defenders Rebecca Harris and David Menninger, described the case as “prosecutorial overreach.” Alternatively, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said, “The trial lasted four days. The jury deliberated for more than three hours. We have no further comment.”
Enraged by the unfair ruling, Stephen Miller stated, “Another example of blatant jury nullification in a blue city. The justice system depends on a jury of peers with a shared system of interests and values. Mass migration tribalizes the entire legal system.”
At the time of the initial arrest, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted about X Nunez’s September 2, 2025, arrest. “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 behind bars while he faces justice,” he said.
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Watch the incident in which Nunez towed the car here:
Reacting to the incident and many other attacks on ICE agents, DHS announced, “We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down. Every day our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals, including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and sexual predators.”
“These acts of violence are fueled by sanctuary politicians’ rhetoric vilifying our law enforcement. We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down. Every day, our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals, including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and sexual predators,” the agency said in response to this dramatic incident amid widespread riots both in LA and across the nation.