A Miami-Dade food truck owner says a man walked into his business portraying himself as a powerful federal immigration agent who could help with immigration problems in exchange for money.
Luis Rodriguez said Jonathan Christian Gonzalez-Reyes made quite an introduction. Gonzalez-Reyes allegedly wore a badge and carried a gun while claiming he held a high-ranking position with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Rodriguez recalled him going even further.
“He said that he was the most important ICE agent in Miami,” Rodriguez told NBC6.
Rodriguez eventually told him to leave. About a month later, he said, Gonzalez-Reyes returned. This time, the encounter allegedly included threats involving a gun, a pistol-whipping and drugs being planted at the business to get it shut down.
Quite An Introduction
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Surveillance footage aired by NBC6 shows Gonzalez-Reyes arriving in a vehicle with blue flashing lights. He can later be seen with what appears to be a badge and a holstered firearm.
Rodriguez said Gonzalez-Reyes initially began talking to one of his employees while presenting himself as an important ICE agent.
“He started talking to one of my employees, saying he was a very important person,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said Gonzalez-Reyes also offered to help with immigration-related problems in exchange for money.
At another point, Rodriguez recalled Gonzalez-Reyes deliberately speaking loudly enough for him to hear a conversation about undocumented immigrants.
“He was saying, ‘Yes, yes, we have two Nicaraguans and one Haitian,’” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez was not convinced. He said the encounter was making him and his employees uncomfortable and finally told Gonzalez-Reyes to leave.
“This circus that you have going on right here, it’s getting very annoying and very uncomfortable for me and my employees,” Rodriguez recalled telling him. “I’m going to ask you to please get out of my business and never come back.”
One Month Later
Rodriguez said Gonzalez-Reyes returned about a month later.
Details published separately by Univision, citing the arrest report, place the recorded confrontation on July 8.
The report, as described by Univision, says Gonzalez-Reyes approached the victim with a gun and badge on his waist and claimed to hold a high-ranking position with ICE. He allegedly offered help with immigration matters in return for assistance that the victim understood to mean money for protection.
After Gonzalez-Reyes was told to leave, the encounter allegedly escalated.
According to Univision’s account of the arrest report, Gonzalez-Reyes threatened to pistol-whip the victim’s son and plant drugs at the business so it would be shut down.
He is also accused of pulling the firearm from his waist and pointing it toward the victim while making threats.
Gonzalez-Reyes then returned to his vehicle and activated police-style sirens as he drove away, the report says.
A Different Story
Gonzalez-Reyes was detained on Sept. 16 after deputies stopped him as he left his residence, according to Univision’s reporting from the arrest report.
After being taken to a police station and advised of his rights, he initially denied knowing the victim or ever going to the business.
He also denied pulling a gun, then said he had merely been showing it to the victim and did not have bad intentions, according to the report as described by Univision.
Gonzalez-Reyes, 45, was booked on charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, falsely impersonating an officer, unlawful use of law-enforcement identification and prohibited use of blue lights.
Why Speak Now
Rodriguez told NBC6 he felt able to publicly discuss what happened because he is an American citizen.
“That’s the reason why I didn’t let this guy trick me,” Rodriguez said. “But I wouldn’t imagine what it would be like for somebody else.”
He also suspects there could be other people who encountered Gonzalez-Reyes under similar circumstances.
“I’m pretty sure he went to other places and tried to scam people,” Rodriguez said.
No evidence establishing additional victims was included in the reporting reviewed by GH.
NBC6 contacted ICE about the case. The agency told the station it had not previously heard about it.
The investigation remained ongoing.