Two Los Angeles protesters were convicted late Friday of stalking a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent after following him to his home in Baldwin Park.
Stalking Convictions in ICE Agent Case
Ashleigh Brown and Cynthia Raygoza were each found guilty of one count of stalking, but acquitted of conspiring to publish protected personal information about a federal employee. A third defendant, Sandra Samane, was acquitted of both counts following a weeklong trial. Jurors deliberated for approximately nine hours before reaching a verdict.
The incident began on August 28, 2025, when the three women followed an unmarked government vehicle leaving a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles. The women, who had regularly protested the Trump administration’s immigration policies, livestreamed the pursuit on the Instagram account “ice_out_ofla.”
The vehicle they followed belonged to Rogelio Reyes Huitzilin, an ICE agent. Huitzilin testified that he was on his way to a “surprise” meeting with his wife and children when he noticed the women following him. A heated exchange ensued, during which Raygoza allegedly used racial slurs and threats against Huitzilin and his wife.
Huitzilin admitted to blocking the women from leaving until Baldwin Park police arrived. Although he alleged he was “assaulted” by Raygoza, no video evidence supported this claim, and the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office declined to file battery charges.
Prosecutors initially charged the women with conspiracy and “doxing” – revealing private information online. However, the doxing charge was dropped after a Homeland Security Investigator admitted to erroneously listing Huitzilin’s address in official reports. The stalking charge was then added, leading to the convictions of Brown and Raygoza.
Huitzilin testified that his family has experienced fear and disruption since the incident, including moving from Baldwin Park, homeschooling one son, and his youngest son losing access to school services. Despite these concerns, Huitzilin stated that he has not sold the family property and relatives still reside there.
Attorneys for the defendants argued the case was an overreach, claiming the women did not intend to harass Huitzilin and that he initiated the confrontation. They also argued the 90-minute interaction did not constitute a pattern of behavior required for a stalking conviction. Samane’s attorney, Robert Bernstein, stated, “Free speech still exists in this country.”
Raygoza and Brown each face up to five years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for June 8. Raygoza’s attorney, Gregory Nicolaysen, vowed to appeal the verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges were Ashleigh Brown and Cynthia Raygoza convicted of?
Ashleigh Brown and Cynthia Raygoza were each convicted of one count of stalking.
What was the outcome for Sandra Samane?
Sandra Samane was acquitted of both counts of conspiracy and disclosing personal information.
What did the defense attorneys argue in the case?
Defense attorneys argued the government’s case was exaggerated, that the defendants did not know who the agent was or intend to harass him, and that the incident did not meet the legal definition of stalking.
As this case moves forward, will the legal boundaries between protest and harassment grow clearer?
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