Federal perjury probe follows Minneapolis ICE shooting as video evidence contradicts sworn testimony in court

Case turns after “newly discovered evidence” and dismissal of felony assault charges

Federal authorities have opened a criminal investigation into whether two Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers gave false sworn testimony tied to the mid-January shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis. The inquiry began after a review of video evidence raised concerns that statements made under oath by two separate officers did not match what the footage shows.

The shooting occurred on January 14, 2026, during an enforcement operation in north Minneapolis. One of the men later charged in the case, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, was shot in the leg during the encounter.

How the initial account unraveled

In the immediate aftermath, federal officials described the shooting as a defensive response during an alleged violent confrontation, including claims that an officer had been attacked with items described as a broom handle and a snow shovel. Felony assault charges were filed against two Venezuelan men: Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna.

Within weeks, prosecutors moved to abandon the case. Court filings cited “newly discovered evidence” that was materially inconsistent with the allegations in the criminal complaint and prior representations made in court. A federal judge subsequently dismissed the felony assault charges, ending the prosecution of both men in federal court.

• Incident date: January 14, 2026

• Defendants: Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna

• Outcome: felony assault charges dismissed after prosecutors cited evidence inconsistent with earlier claims

Officers placed on leave as DOJ and ICE review sworn statements

ICE leadership has said the two officers whose testimony is under scrutiny were placed on administrative leave pending internal review. The agency also stated that the matter is being examined jointly with the Justice Department and that the officers could face termination and potential criminal exposure if investigators determine perjury occurred.

The perjury inquiry centers on whether sworn testimony about the confrontation and the gunshot aligns with the video record and other evidence now in investigators’ possession.

Broader implications in Minnesota amid multiple federal use-of-force incidents

The Jan. 14 shooting landed in an already tense environment in Minneapolis, where recent federal uses of force have intensified scrutiny of how enforcement operations are planned, how officers account for force in public statements and court proceedings, and how quickly local and state investigators can obtain access to witnesses and evidence.

Separately, Minnesota state authorities have requested and pursued investigative roles in federal use-of-force incidents within Minneapolis, underscoring ongoing jurisdictional and transparency questions when federal officers are involved. The state-level review of the Jan. 14 incident has included public requests for anyone with video or firsthand information to come forward.

The federal investigation into sworn statements is ongoing. No public findings have been released on whether false testimony occurred, and no officer has been publicly charged in connection with the Minneapolis shooting as of this writing.