A Utah couple was ordered Monday to serve four days behind bars after admitting to federal charges for helping a man evade immigration officers in Salt Lake City. Kelzie Ryann Luna and George Sanchez-Juarez pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a class A misdemeanor count of theft and disposal of government property, along with aiding and abetting. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead also imposed six months of supervised release and a $600 fine on both Luna and Sanchez-Juarez, in addition to ordering them to pay $28 in restitution to cover the cost of the handcuffs they were accused of destroying.
Federal prosecutors advocated for a jail sentence, stating in a sentencing memo that the crime merited more than just probation or a public scolding. They emphasized that both the defendants and the general public needed to understand that interfering with lawful ICE arrests would lead to imprisonment. U.S. Attorney for Utah Melissa Holyoak also issued a statement, asserting that those who choose to take the law into their own hands will be held accountable, noting that consequences include a permanent federal criminal record. Charles Engle, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Denver, added in a statement that the couple’s actions were not harmless, but rather undermined public safety, obstructed justice, and showed blatant disregard for the rule of law.
The incident unfolded in October 2025 at a gas station in Salt Lake City. Court filings from prosecutors describe how the couple was in their car when a man ran into traffic and approached them, saying “help me please” in Spanish. From the passenger seat, Luna recognized him as a past customer from a nearby McDonald’s where she previously worked. Prosecutors alleged that Luna later posted on Instagram about the event, mentioning that the man had a gash on his arm and a black eye, and stated they had “brought him to safety and made sure he was okay.” She was also accused of posting a video depicting a man sprinting into traffic, alongside another clip showing someone cutting off handcuffs, accompanied by a defiant caption related to ICE.
Immigration officers had been at a Salt Lake City Home Depot that day, seeking four individuals previously deported, according to court documents. An agent reported that the escapee resembled “one of the four targets.” The man managed to get away from a vehicle while officers were engaged in arresting someone else.
The couple, described as being in their early 20s with young twins, are employed and have no prior criminal history, according to prosecutors in their sentencing memo. Prosecutors noted that a sentence of four days or two weekends behind bars was considered sufficient. Judge Pead ordered Luna and Sanchez-Juarez to report to the U.S. Marshals Service next month to serve their sentences at different times. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Utah did not specify in its news release whether immigration agents eventually located the man who received assistance from the couple. Attorneys representing Luna and Sanchez-Juarez declined to comment on the court's decision.
This case occurs as the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown. An analysis released last week by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute, as reported by Stateline, counted 980,000 deportations from the start of the second Trump administration through July, a figure that includes voluntary departures after arrest.
