Bulgarian National Pleads Guilty to Assaulting ICE Officer in Elizabeth Facility

Vasil Petrov faces up to 20 years in prison for striking a federal officer during deportation processing.

Vasil Petrov, a 40-year-old Bulgarian national, pleaded guilty today to assaulting a U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Karen Williams in Camden federal court, where Petrov admitted to one count of assaulting a federal officer and inflicting bodily injury.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the incident occurred on December 27, 2023, while Petrov was in the lawful custody of ICE at a facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, awaiting removal from the United States. During processing for deportation, Petrov struck an ICE deportation officer in the chin with a closed fist. The assault caused bodily injury, including a chin laceration that required liquid stitches for treatment.

Petrov now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the assault. Sentencing is scheduled for January 27, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents from Homeland Security Investigations Newark, led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, for their work in investigating the case. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Y. Zuckier of the OCDETF Unit in Newark.

This case underscores the serious consequences of assaulting federal officers, particularly during lawful deportation procedures.