South L.A. Man Arrested on Federal Complaint Charging Him with Illegally Towing Government Vehicle Used During Immigration Arrest Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California Byline: Ciaran McEvoy Dateline: Los Angeles, California Date: 2 September 2025 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic: Bobby Nunez

LOS ANGELES – A South Los Angeles man and tow truck driver was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with stealing government property by illegally towing a vehicle used by law enforcement officers to conduct an immigration-related arrest earlier this month.

Bobby Nunez, 33, is charged with theft of government property. Nunez is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Nunez on August 15 interfered with federal law enforcement officers in downtown Los Angeles who were arresting Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, 23, an illegal alien from Colombia residing in downtown Los Angeles. The officers used two government law enforcement vehicles to box in Martinez’s vehicle and prevent her from escaping. Both government vehicles had their emergency lights activated during this incident, which occurred at the exit of a luxury apartment complex’s parking structure.

During the officers’ struggle to arrest Martinez, Nunez approached Martinez’s vehicle and began pressing the passenger side door of her vehicle on an officer, who then threatened Nunez with arrest. After being told the officers were conducting a federal investigation, Nunez swore at the officers and told them “Something was going to happen” to them.

A second man then approached Martinez’s vehicle to interfere with the arrests. While officers addressed this man’s interference, Nunez got into his Dodge tow truck and towed one of the government vehicles that was boxing in Martinez’s vehicle. At the time of this interference, the government vehicle had its keys inside and a firearm locked in a safe inside it as well.

Two days later, law enforcement observed Nunez’s tow truck parked in an assigned residential space at the same luxury apartment complex in downtown Los Angeles. 

A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, Nunez would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Neil P. Thakor of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

Contact

Ciaran McEvoy
Public Information Officer
ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov
(213) 894-4465

Updated November 7, 2025

Press Release Number: 25-230