The Martin County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office said Thursday they arrested a man for impersonating an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.

Police say that 23-year-old José Juan Lopez attempted to pull over two Hispanic men, threatening to deport them. 

However, the victims were wary of Lopez and recognized that he did not appear to be a law enforcement officer. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. 

Entrance to the Martin County, Florida, jail. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)

According to Martin County Sheriff’s Office Major Rueben Romero, the victim usually picks up his coworkers in his van. During one such instance, a silver truck obstructed his path as he stopped to collect another colleague. Romero explained to WPBF that someone emerged from the vehicle, claiming to be an ICE agent, and requested identification, questioning their immigration status, and whether they were documented or not.

“Thankfully, the victim realized this individual wasn’t an ordinary police officer,” Romero remarked. “A typical officer doesn’t jump out wearing pajama pants and a backwards hat.”

The Office of Law Revision Council states that pretending to be a federal officer is punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years.