A Dominican man accused of shooting an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge of possessing ammunition as an unauthorized immigrant.
Prosecutors accused Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, 22, of shooting the officer in the face in Fort Washington Park in Upper Manhattan last summer. The officer also fired his weapon, hitting Nunez in the leg and groin, according to charging papers. Both survived their injuries.
Mora Nunez immigrated illegally from the Dominican Republic in 2023, according to federal officials. He arrived during a spike in migration to New York City. The shooting added fuel to an already fiery debate about immigration, as President Donald Trump’s administration ramped up enforcement and criticized Democratic-led cities with sanctuary policies.
The U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York accused Mora Nunez and Christhian Aybar-Berroa of stealing a woman’s cellphone moments before they approached the off-duty officer.
A criminal complaint includes blurry images that prosecutors said show the pair riding up to the officer on a motorbike. Prosecutors said Mora Nunez stepped off the bike, walked toward the officer and another person while holding a gun, and then fired at least two shots.
Mora Nunez and Aybar-Berroa have both pleaded not guilty to various charges in Manhattan state court, including assault, robbery and weapons possession. State prosecutors also accused Mora Nunez of attempted murder. Those charges are still pending.
Mora Nunez admitted in federal court Monday that he knew he did not have lawful immigration status in the country. He also admitted to illegally possessing ammunition and agreed to turn over several cartridges to the government.
He read a written statement in Spanish, at first speaking so quickly that the judge instructed him to slow down and give an interpreter time to translate.
Mora Nunez appeared in court in a khaki jail jumpsuit with his ankles shackled. He told Judge Loretta Preska that he was born in Santo Domingo and dropped out of school after the seventh grade. He also said he takes medicine every afternoon for pain from the bullet that hit him.
With his guilty plea, Mora Nunez faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison. Prosecutors said in court that admitting to the crime meant his deportation would be a presumptive guarantee — not just a possibility.
Mora Nunez said he understood the outcome. He is expected to be sentenced this September.
His defense attorney declined to comment outside the courtroom.
Aybar-Berroa, who is also from the Dominican Republic, according to prosecutors, has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact as an unauthorized immigrant. His federal case is ongoing.
