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New York Post
9 hours ago
- New York Post
Knife-wielding illegal migrant who threatened to slit throat of US Attorney had previous busts for threatening someone, DWI
The knife-wielding illegal immigrant who allegedly chased down a US Attorney in New York while threatening to slit his throat had previous busts for threatening another person and driving while intoxicated, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Saul Morales-Garcia — an illegal migrant from El Salvador who was previously deported and snuck back into the country illegally — had already racked up an unsettling rap sheet before he allegedly threatened John Sarcone, the President Trump-appointed US attorney for the Northern District of New York, outside the Hilton Hotel in Albany Tuesday night. 3 Mugshot of Saul Morales-Garcia. Albany County Sheriff's Office 'The alien in question illegally entered our country twice, was deported, returned, and has since been committing crimes across the country,' Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement Friday. Morales-Garcia, 40, was previously collared in 2009 in Arlington, Virginia, and convicted of misdemeanor petit larceny and sentenced to 12 months in prison, according to DHS. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents then nabbed Morales-Garcia in 2010 and he was deported shortly thereafter. But the criminal migrant snuck his way back in sometime between April 21, 2010 and Dec. 10, 2021, DHS said. 3 U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York John A. Sarcone III was appointed by the Trump administration. Houston Chronicle via Getty Images He then turned up in Georgia in 2021, when he was arrested and charged with a DWI. A couple of years later, in 2023, Morales-Garcia was picked up by the US Parks Police and charged with disorderly conduct for physically threatening, being drunk in public and possession of an open container, according to DHS. He was arrested again in 2024 by cops in Upper Merion, Pennsylvania, and charged with misdemeanor retail theft. 3 The illegal immigrant allegedly lunged at the US Attorney with a knife. Albany County Sheriff's Office His lawless streak continued, and he was collared this week after he allegedly chased Sarcone down the street outside his Albany hotel just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday, WNYT reported, citing Albany County prosecutors. Morales-Garcia charged at the US attorney while clutching a blade and gesturing that he would slit his throat. Sarcone was uninjured and Morales-Garcia was picked up by Albany County sheriff's deputies just moments after the frightening alleged attack, according to local cops. Morales-Garcia was charged with attempted second-degree murder and is being held without bail, the Albany Times Union reported. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Investigations is also seeking to charge Morales-Garcia with illegal re-entry into the US, which could accelerate his second deportation. ICE has also lodged a detainer to take him into federal custody, DHS said. Morales-Garcia 'should have never been in our country in the first place—and now, he will face attempted murder in the second-degree charges and removal,' McLaughlin said in the Friday statement. 'Make no mistake: Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is focused on removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from Americans' communities,' she added. The alleged attempted slasher was also previously convicted of a felony in El Salvador, WNYT reported, citing investigators. Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Sarcone to the Northern District of New York in March. The Pace University graduate is a native New Yorker with a 'humble, blue-collar background,' who was raised in Croton-on-Hudson, Sarcone said in a statement after his appointment.
New York Post
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
US Attorney for NY John Sarcone claims knife-wielding illegal migrant who threatened him ‘was going to kill somebody'
US attorney for New York John Sarcone claimed Friday that a knife-wielding illegal Salvadoran migrant who was charged with threatening to slit his throat was 'going to kill somebody' if he didn't step up to help get him off the streets. Sarcone, the President Trump-appointed US attorney for the Northern District of New York, allegedly encountered a 'crazy' Saul Morales-Garcia — a previously deported illegal migrant from El Salvador — outside the Hilton Hotel in Albany on Tuesday night. Detailing the encounter, Sarcone said Morales-Garcia, 40, aggressively lunged at him multiple times on the street while screaming in a 'foreign language' before he gestured he would slice his throat. Advertisement 'I knew that if he got away, he was going to kill somebody,' Sarcone told Fox News' 'Fox & Friends.' 'I could have easily just kept walking but I sensed that there was danger here.' 3 US Attorney for the Northern District John Sarcone was allegedly threatened by a knife-wielding illegal migrant in Albany on Tuesday. Houston Chronicle via Getty Images Advertisement Sarcone said he noticed Morales-Garcia after leaving his office in downtown Albany and decided to keep an eye on him because he 'definitely appeared to be up to something crazy.' The federal prosecutor said he stopped outside the hotel to keep watch when the illegal migrant allegedly started screaming at him. 'I didn't acknowledge him. I kept looking straight ahead. Then out of the corner of my eye, he starts coming towards me. I turned, I look at him. I still don't say anything and then he pulls a knife out. He is screaming at me and then he charges at me,' Sarcone recalled. Sarcone said he started running to the hotel lobby before the alleged perp suddenly stopped and started walking away. Advertisement The prosecutor immediately called the local sheriff on his personal line to alert him. 3 The knife allegedly used in Tuesday night's incident. Albany County Sheriff's Office While waiting for law enforcement to arrive, Sarcone said he went back to the street and yelled out to Garcia-Morales to get his attention and prevent him from disappearing. A screaming Morales-Garcia then allegedly charged at Sarcone yet again while making a throat-slitting gesture at Sarcone with the blade. Advertisement 'I felt an obligation to the public as the chief Federal law enforcement officer in the district that includes the city of Albany,' Sarcone said in a statement in the wake of the alleged ordeal. 'I feared for my life but I couldn't let this individual harm and potentially kill others.' Morales-Garcia was taken into custody immediately after cops arrived on the scene, prosecutors said. 3 Saul Morales-Garcia, 40, was charged with attempted second-degree murder after allegedly threatening to slit the throat of US Attorney John Sarcone. Albany County Sheriff's Office 'US Attorney John Sarcone's selfless actions likely saved lives,' Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said. The alleged attempted slasher has been in the US illegally since 2021 after previously being deported. He has a criminal rap sheet in at least three other states outside New York, according to prosecutors. Sarcone said Gov. Kathy Hochul had called him in the wake of the alleged attack after GOP lawmakers started blasting the state's sanctuary city laws. 'She was very sympathetic and concerned and I said 'these sanctuary cities aren't working',' he said of the phone call with Hochul. Advertisement Morales-Garcia has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and menacing in the second degree. He was remanded without bail following an initial hearing in Albany City Court.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
US Attorney for NY John Sarcone chased by knife-wielding illegal Salvadoran migrant who threatened to slit his throat: prosecutors
A US Attorney for New York was allegedly chased by a knife-wielding illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal record who threatened to slit his throat on the streets of Albany Tuesday night, prosecutors said. John Sarcone, the Trump-appointed US Attorney for the Northern District of New York, was allegedly chased and threatened outside the Hilton Hotel in Albany by Saul Morales-Garcia — an illegal migrant from El Salvador who was previously deported, WNYT reported, citing Albany County prosecutors. 3 US Attorney for the Northern District John Sarcone was threatened by a knife-wielding illegal migrant in Albany on Tuesday. Houston Chronicle via Getty Images Advertisement Morales-Garcia, 40, allegedly aggressively advanced toward Sarcone with his weapon in hand — gesturing that he would slit the attorney's throat as he lunged at him before chasing the US attorney down the street outside the hotel just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, that report stated citing local police. Sarcone was uninjured, and nearby Albany County sheriff's deputies picked up Morales-Garcia just moments after the alleged attack, according to local cops. The alleged attempted slasher was previously convicted of a felony in El Salvador and has been deported from the United States at least once in the past, WNYT reported, citing investigators. Advertisement 3 The knife allegedly used in Tuesday night's incident. Albany County Sheriff's Office Albany County prosecutors said the incident appeared to be a 'random' street encounter. Morales-Garcia is currently in the country illegally and has a criminal record in at least three other states outside of New York, prosecutors said. It is not known when Morales-Garcia entered the US or where he allegedly crossed into the country. Advertisement 3 Saul Morales-Garcia, 40, was charged with attempted second-degree murder accused after allegedly threatening to slit the throat of US Attorney John Sarcone. Albany County Sheriff's Office He is charged with attempted second-degree murder and is being held without bail, the Albany Times Union reported. 'It's important that everybody understands that we take these things seriously — whether you're the US Attorney for the Northern District or your name's John Smith and you live on Morton Avenue,' Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon said after the court hearings, the outlet reported. Advertisement US Attorney Sarcone was appointed to the Northern District of New York in March by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Pace University graduate is a native New Yorker, growing up in a 'humble, blue-collar background' in Croton-on-Hudson, Sarcone said in a statement at the time. The Northern District of New York declined to provide a comment to The Post. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
