Massachusetts Man Charged with Assaulting a Border Patrol Agent

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Michael Scaduto, 33, of Littleton, Massachusetts, pleaded not guilty on February 20, 2020, in United States District Court in Burlington, to a charge of assaulting a Border Patrol Agent.  U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy released Scaduto on conditions pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

On February 13, 2020, a federal grand jury in Burlington returned a one-count indictment charging Scaduto with knowingly and intentionally forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating and interfering with a Border Patrol Agent of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, while the Border Patrol Agent was engaged in and on account of the performance of his official duties.

United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan stated:  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate assaults on those who protect, serve, and put themselves in harm’s way to make Vermont safer.  Those who commit such offenses against federal agents will find themselves in federal court.  We thank our brave men and women in uniform at all levels of law enforcement for their daily sacrifices in the name of public safety.”

The United States Attorney emphasizes that the indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Scaduto faces a maximum possible term of imprisonment of eight years and a fine of $250,000.00.

The matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Gilman.  Scaduto is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.