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US Attorney for NY John Sarcone chased by knife-wielding illegal Salvadoran migrant who threatened to slit his throat: prosecutors

US Attorney for NY John Sarcone chased by knife-wielding illegal Salvadoran migrant who threatened to slit his throat: prosecutors

New York Post19-06-2025
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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