A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer accused of lying to the FBI about a January shooting in Minneapolis entered a not guilty plea Friday to six federal counts of making materially false statements.
Christian Castro appeared in a federal courtroom in St. Paul, where prosecutors allege he shot 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg through the front door of a Minneapolis home during Operation Metro Surge.
Castro told investigators he was being attacked with a broom and shovel before he opened fire, but prosecutors say surveillance footage contradicted his account.
Court Conditions and Release
During Friday’s appearance, Castro, 52, wore an ankle monitor and was instructed by a judge to travel only between Minnesota and South Texas. The judge also required him to report any altercation with law enforcement within 72 hours. He was subsequently released.
Path to Minnesota Custody
Castro had previously been held in Texas custody for about 90 days before his release. The extended detention was due in part to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s refusal to sign an extradition warrant to hand him over to Minnesota authorities.
After his release in Texas, his home state, Castro was required to wear an ankle monitor and surrender his passport and guns. He was booked in Minnesota last week.
Charges and Jurisdictional Dispute
Castro faces both federal and state charges related to the shooting. Prosecutors said he lied about the circumstances of the incident, which occurred during Operation Metro Surge, part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
The law enforcement operation brought thousands of federal agents to Minnesota, resulting in sweeping arrests as well as the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens.
Minnesota authorities have clashed with the Trump administration over who should handle any charges against Castro. The administration contends that only federal authorities have jurisdiction over the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
