JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville woman who punched a Florida Highway Patrol trooper during an immigration enforcement operation was sentenced Wednesday to 15 months in prison, after a hearing that included an apology from the defendant and emotional appeals from her family.
Jennifer Cruz, 41, will also serve two years of supervised release.
The sentencing brought sharply different accounts of the lasting impact of the confrontation: Trooper Jessica Manganaro describing injuries that continue to affect her daily life, and relatives asking the judge to consider the mother and provider they know.
Cruz pleaded guilty in June to assaulting officers conducting an immigration operation. According to federal prosecutors, the Jan. 13 encounter escalated after troopers discovered her license was suspended and tried to have her vehicle towed. Cruz punched Manganaro in the face and later struck two federal officers with kicks as authorities tried to place her in a patrol vehicle.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Manganaro described treatment for a broken finger, including physical therapy and orthopedic care. She told the court she still has difficulty performing everyday tasks, including opening a can or jar, and cannot fully close her left hand.
Manganaro, who said she has served for 12 years, also described the toll of video of the confrontation circulating publicly and the ridicule directed at her family. She urged the court to impose a sentence that would deter similar attacks on law enforcement.
Cruz apologized in court, accepted responsibility and said she would not shift blame for her actions. Addressing Manganaro directly, she expressed shame and regret and promised the behavior would not happen again.
Her defense asked for a sentence without incarceration, pointing to her difficult childhood, remorse and family responsibilities. Her attorney argued that she expressed regret soon after the incident and that the confrontation did not reflect the life she had otherwise built.
Cruz’s adult daughter asked the court for mercy, describing her mother as a role model for her three siblings and saying the family needs her.
An employer also spoke on Cruz’s behalf, describing her as dependable and asking the judge to consider her remorse and the impact on her family.
The judge ultimately imposed prison time. The sentencing conditions outlined in court also included mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment and testing, and an anger management program.
In closing remarks, the judge emphasized the need for people to control their actions and learn to get along with one another.
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