A Wisconsin judge faces five years in prison after she was found guilty of helping a violent illegal migrant evade federal immigration agents attempting to serve him with a warrant during a court appearance earlier this year. <\/p>\n
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was busted in April on felony obstruction and misdemeanor charges<\/a> after she helped Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer sneak out a back jury door when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showed up at the courthouse to detain him, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n While jurors acquitted Dugan on a misdemeanor concealment count, they found her guilty Thursday of felony obstruction.<\/p>\n Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan leaves the federal courthouse after a hearing in Milwaukee on May 15, 2025. REUTERS<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we are disappointed in today\u2019s outcome, the failure of the prosecution to secure convictions on both counts demonstrates the opportunity we have to clear Judge Dugan\u2019s name and show she did nothing wrong in this matter,\u201d the jurist\u2019s defense team said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have planned for this potential outcome and our defense of Judge Dugan is just beginning. This trial required considerable resources to prepare for and public support for Judge Dugan\u2019s defense fund is critical as we prepare for the next phase of this defense.\u201d<\/p>\n Dugan is escorted by officials after her arrest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 25, 2025. DOJ<\/p>\n She faces up to five years in prison. A date for her sentencing has not been set.<\/p>\n Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche cheered the verdict on X<\/a>, declaring that nobody \u2014 not even judges \u2014 is above the law.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, a federal jury of her peers found her guilty and sent a clear message: the American people respect law and order. Nobody is above the law,\u201d Blanche\u00a0wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Department will not tolerate obstruction, will enforce federal immigration law, and will hold criminals to account \u2013 even those who wear robes.\u201d<\/p>\n Flores-Ruiz, 30, faced Judge Dugan on April 18 on three misdemeanor charges after allegedly pummeling a man with more than 30 punches during a March 12 fight over loud music, according to a criminal complaint\u00a0obtained by The Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Mexican national, previously deported from the US in 2013 and free on a signature bond at the time, also allegedly struck a woman who tried to intervene during the altercation.<\/p>\n The New York Post front cover on April 26, 2025. <\/p>\n However, when Dugan learned that ICE agents were in the courthouse looking for Flores-Ruiz, she left the bench \u201cvisibly angry\u201d to confront the federal agents.<\/p>\n Dugan then ordered officers out if they weren\u2019t there for court, then sent federal agents away from her courtroom to Chief Judge Carl Ashley\u2019s office after seeing Flores-Ruiz\u2019s immigration warrant, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n After Dugan went back inside, a courtroom deputy told federal agents he hadn\u2019t tipped her off and claimed she was \u201cpushing\u201d Flores-Ruiz\u2019s case through.<\/p>\n When Flores-Ruiz\u2019s appearance wrapped up, Dugan was heard saying, \u201cWait, come with me,\u201d before ushering him and his attorney out through the courtroom\u2019s jury door to a non-public area of the courthouse.<\/p>\n Flores-Ruiz made it out of the courthouse but was ultimately apprehended outside during a foot chase.<\/p>\n He has since been removed from the US.<\/p>\n