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Federal Jury Convicts Spokane Trio in ICE Bus Blockade

A federal grand jury indicted Jac Archer, Justice Forral, and Bajun Mavalwalla II under 18 U.S.C. § 372, which prohibits conspiring to injure or impede federal officers in the execution of their duties [1]. The three defendants, collectively known as the "Spokane 3," were charged in connection with an incident at a Spokane ICE facility in June 2025, in which a group blocked an ICE transport bus for more than nine hours [1][2]. The case proceeded to trial before Judge Rebecca L. Pennell in the Eastern District of Washington [1].

On May 28, 2026, a federal jury in Spokane returned guilty verdicts against all three defendants on the single conspiracy count [1][2]. Prosecutors established that the defendants coordinated to obstruct the ICE bus from departing the facility, impeding federal officers carrying out their lawful duties for the duration of the blockade [1]. No counts were dismissed or resulted in a hung jury [1].

Each defendant faces a statutory maximum of six years in federal prison [1][2]. No sentencing date has been publicly announced. The case was investigated by the FBI's Seattle Field Office, which issued the official conviction announcement on the date of the verdict [1].

The convictions drew national attention as an early test of federal conspiracy charges applied to immigration enforcement protests [2]. Defense arguments centered on the civil-disobedience character of the blockade, though the jury did not find that framing persuasive under the elements of § 372 [2]. Appeals remain possible after sentencing, and the case is being closely watched by civil liberties organizations and immigration enforcement advocates alike for its implications on protest conduct at federal facilities [2].

References

[1]FBI Seattle Field Office / DOJ. (2026, May 28). Eastern Washington Jury Convicts Three Defendants of Conspiring to Impede Federal Officers in the Execution of Their Duties. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/seattle/news/eastern-washington-jury-convicts-three-defendants-of-conspiring-to-impede-federal-officers-in-the-execution-of-their-duties
[2]WLT Report. (2026, May 31). Spokane Jury Convicts 3 Who Blocked ICE Bus for Nine Hours. https://wltreport.com/2026/05/31/spokane-jury-convicts-3-who-blocked-ice-bus-for-nine-hours/

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