Abad Sandoval Gonzalez revealed himself to be the person charged with being a fake ICE agent at the Fresno City Council meeting on March 27, 2025. (GV Wire/David Taub)
- Two men face misdemeanor charges for allegedly impersonating ICE agents at Fresno’s River Park Shopping Center.
- Police say the suspects wore tactical vests and filmed confrontations with the public for social media content.
- One suspect later denied wrongdoing during a public appearance at a Fresno City Council meeting.
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Two men arrested in February for allegedly impersonating ICE agents appeared in court Monday.
Judge David Gottlieb granted a continuance on behalf of the attorneys for Abad Amilca Sandovalgonzalez and Tom Joel Avila. The defendants were released on their own recognizance, and ordered to appear at the next hearing.
The arraignment will now take place on July 7, according to the court docket.
Defense attorney Ralph Avila is representing Sandovalgonzalez and his son, Tom Joel Avila.
Ralph Avila plans to meet with the Fresno County District’s Attorney office to resolve the case.
Original story:
Fresno police arrested Abad Amilca Sandovalgonzalez and Tom Joel Avila on Feb. 26, after the pair allegedly visited several businesses at the River Park Shopping Center, wearing uniforms similar to immigration enforcement agents. They were cited and released.
Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp charged Sandovalgonzalez and Avila with one count each of misdemeanor impersonating an officer.
Police: Suspects Wearing Tactical Vests
At the time of the arrests, police said they received multiple reports from community members claiming that the men, dressed as “ICE Agents,” were confronting people and filming the incidents for social media.
Both men were wearing black tactical vests with patches designed to resemble those of law enforcement and immigration officials.
In the charging document, the DA’s office said the suspects wore unauthorized uniforms “with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a peace officer, and of fraudulently inducing the belief that defendants Abad Amilca Sandovalgonzalez and Tom Joel Avila was [sic] a peace officer.”
“All of which is contrary to the form, force, and effect of the Statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the people of the State of California,” the document said.
Sandovalgonzalez and Avila are scheduled for arraignment in front of Judge David Gottlieb.
Suspect Made Public Appearance
Sandovalgonzalez — also spelled Sandoval Gonzalez — spoke at a Fresno City Council meeting on March 27. He denied any wrongdoing.
“I’m an activist. I fight for people’s rights, civil rights, and human and immigrant rights as well,” Sandovalgonzalez told GV Wire at the time. “I go to a lot of places that have contracts with the government.”
Sandovalgonzalez has several social media pages, documenting his views on immigration and enforcement.
GV Wire’s Anthony W. Haddad contributed to this story.
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