Canadian woman arrested, charged with assaulting a CBP officer

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Romane Toumani, 29, of Ontario, Canada, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Henning, who is handling the case, stated that on February 8, 2024, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Homeland Security Investigations received a report of a Customs and Border Protection Officer being assaulted by Toumani at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. According to the complaint, Toumani and her sister were traveling in an UBER vehicle, when the UBER driver was referred for immigration inspection at the Peace Bridge and then told that he would have to return to Canada for insufficient travel documents. The Toumani’s were told to retrieve their baggage from the vehicle and advised that CBP would be examining their luggage, which the sisters stated that CBP had no authority to do. As CBP officers attempted to return the Toumani’s to the immigration inspection area, Romane Toumani forcefully bit the arm of an officer and resisted efforts multiple attempts to place her in handcuffs.

Toumani made an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on conditions.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Rose Brophy, Director of Field Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.     

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