Case: United States v. Huerta

2:25-mj-03504 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: June 8, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a criminal case brought by the United States against David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SIEU). This case arose from search warrants issued on June 5, 2025, by a magistrate judge in California for four business premises suspected of unlawfully employing undocumented immigrants and falsifying employment records related to the status of their employees. On June 6, federal law enforcement went to execute the warrants at the locations specified. Huerta …

This is a criminal case brought by the United States against David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SIEU). This case arose from search warrants issued on June 5, 2025, by a magistrate judge in California for four business premises suspected of unlawfully employing undocumented immigrants and falsifying employment records related to the status of their employees. On June 6, federal law enforcement went to execute the warrants at the locations specified. Huerta and other individuals arrived at the location to protest, blocked a vehicular gate where the officers were attempting to enter the premises, and attempted to intimidate the officers both physically and verbally. The complaint alleged that Huerta yelled to the protestors, “stop the vehicles” and “it’s a public sidewalk, they can’t stop us.” When requested by law enforcement to move out of the way of law enforcement, Huerta allegedly responded, “What are you going to do, you can’t arrest all of us.”

Eventually, law enforcement officers were required to move protesters physically in order to enter the premises. Huerta was removed by the officers, and according to news reports, was injured while being arrested. The complaint, filed on June 8, 2025, in the District Court for the Central District of California, charged Huerta with violating 18 U.S.C. § 372 (Conspiracy to Impede an Officer). The maximum penalty under the statute is 6 years of imprisonment. Huerta was later released on bail of $50,000.

The case was assigned to Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian. 

The case is ongoing. 

Summary Authors

Jeremiah Price (7/22/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70499403/parties/united-states-v-huerta/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Andrews, Shawn T. (California)

Aveis, Mark (California)

Nelson, Shawn J. (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Bednarski, Marilyn E (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:25-mj-03504

Criminal Complaint by Telephone or Other Reliable Electronic Means

June 8, 2025

June 8, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70499403/united-states-v-huerta/

Last updated Aug. 23, 2025, 11:29 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed as to Defendant David Jose Huerta in violation of 18:372. Approved by Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian as to David Jose Huerta (1). (jb) (Entered: 06/10/2025)

June 8, 2025

June 8, 2025

Clearinghouse
3

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR DETENTION filed by Plaintiff USA as to Defendant David Jose Huerta. (jb) (Entered: 06/10/2025)

June 8, 2025

June 8, 2025

RECAP
10

NOTICE DIRECTING DEFENDANT TO APPEAR for Preliminary Hearing and Arraignment on Indictment/Information. Defendant David Jose Huerta is directed to appear for Preliminary Hearing on June 30, 2025 at 11:30 am and for Post Indictment Arraignment on July 7, 2025 at 11:30 am before the Duty Magistrate Judge. (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
11

ADVISEMENT OF STATUTORY & CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS filed by Defendant David Jose Huerta. (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
12

DECLARATION RE: PASSPORT filed by Defendant David Jose Huerta, declaring that I have been issued a passport or other travel document(s), but they are not currently in my possession. I will surrender any passport or other travel document(s) issued to me, to the U.S. Pretrial Services Agency by the deadline imposed. I will not apply for a passport or other travel document during the pendency of this case. (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
13

PASSPORT RECEIPT from U. S. Pretrial Services as to Defendant David Jose Huerta. USA passport was received on 6/9/2025. (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
14

REDACTED AFFIDAVIT OF SURETIES (No Justification - Pursuant to Local Criminal Rule 46-5.2.8) in the amount of $25,000 by surety: Lucia Aguayo Huerta for Filed by Defendant David Jose Huerta (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
15

SEALED UNREDACTED AFFIDAVIT OF SURETY (NO JUSTIFICATION) filed by Defendant David Jose Huerta re: Affidavit of Surety (No Justification)(CR-4) 14 (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
16

REDACTED AFFIDAVIT OF SURETIES (No Justification - Pursuant to Local Criminal Rule 46-5.2.8) in the amount of $25,000 by surety: David Huerta for Filed by Defendant David Jose Huerta (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
17

SEALED UNREDACTED AFFIDAVIT OF SURETY (NO JUSTIFICATION) filed by Defendant David Jose Huerta re: Affidavit of Surety (No Justification)(CR-4) 16 (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
18

BOND AND CONDITIONS OF RELEASE filed as to Defendant David Jose Huerta conditions of release: SEE CONDITIONS ON BOND approved by Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian. (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
4

ARREST WARRANT RETURNED Executed on 6/6/2025 as to Defendant David Jose Huerta. (jb) (Entered: 06/10/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

RECAP
6

DESIGNATION AND APPEARANCE OF COUNSEL; filed by Marilyn E Bednarski appearing for David Jose Huerta (Attorney Marilyn E Bednarski added to party David Jose Huerta(pty:dft))(jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
7

REPORT COMMENCING CRIMINAL ACTION as to Defendant David Jose Huerta; defendants Year of Birth: 1967; date of arrest: 6/6/2025 (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
8

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR DETENTION filed by Plaintiff USA as to Defendant David Jose Huerta (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
9

MINUTES OF INITIAL APPEARANCE ON LOCAL COMPLAINT held before Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian as to Defendant David Jose Huerta. Court issues Order under Fed. R. Crim. P. 5(f) concerning prosecutor's disclosure obligations;see General Order 21-02 (written order). Defendant arraigned and advised of the charges. Defendant states true name as charged. Attorney: Mariilyn E. Bednarski, Retained, present. Court orders bail set as: David Jose Huerta (1) $50,000-Appearance Bond, SEE CONDITIONS ON BOND. Defendant remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. Electronic Release Order issued. Preliminary Hearing set for 6/30/2025 11:30 AM before Duty Magistrate Judge. Post-Indictment Arraignment set for 7/7/2025 11:30 AM before Duty Magistrate Judge. Court Smart: 6/9/2025. (jb) (Entered: 06/24/2025)

June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

PACER
5

WAIVER of Preliminary Examination or Hearing by Defendant David Jose Huerta (Bednarski, Marilyn) (Entered: 06/20/2025)

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

PACER
19

STIPULATION for Order CONTINUING FILING DATE FOR INFORMATION OR INDICTMENT PURSUANT TO SPEEDY TRIAL ACT filed by Plaintiff USA as to Defendant David Jose Huerta (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Attorney Shawn J. Nelson added to party USA(pty:pla))(Nelson, Shawn) (Entered: 06/30/2025)

1 Proposed Order

View on PACER

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

PACER
20

ORDER CONTINUING FILING DATE FOR INFORMATION OR INDICTMENT PURSUANT TO SPEEDY TRIAL ACT by Magistrate Judge Brianna Fuller Mircheff as to Defendant David Jose Huerta, re Stipulation for Order, 19 (mhe) (Entered: 07/01/2025)

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

RECAP
21

STIPULATION re: excludable delay from August 5, 2025 to September 19, 2025 and to Modify Conditions of Pretrial Release filed by Plaintiff USA as to Defendant David Jose Huerta (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Attorney Mark Aveis added to party USA(pty:pla))(Aveis, Mark) (Entered: 08/04/2025)

1 Proposed Order

View on PACER

Aug. 4, 2025

Aug. 4, 2025

RECAP
22

ORDER (1) FINDING EXCLUDABLE TIME AND CONTINUING FILING DATE FOR INFORMATION ORINDICTMENT PURSUANT TO SPEEDY TRIAL ACT, AND (2) MODIFYING CONDITIONS OF PRETRIAL RELEASE by Magistrate Judge Steve Kim as to Defendant David Jose Huerta, re Stipulation Re Excludable Delay, 21 . (jb) (Entered: 08/07/2025)

Aug. 4, 2025

Aug. 4, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Policing

Criminal Justice (Other)

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government (Immigration Enforcement)

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 8, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The United States of America.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-DOJ federal government plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

David Jose Huerta, Private Entity/Person

Case Details

Special Case Type(s):

Criminal

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Immigration/Border:

Enforcement location

ICE/DHS/INS raid