Fredy Jiguan-Temaj, a 23-year-old Guatemalan national, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon on July 23 after pleading guilty to felony reentry of a removed alien, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Judge Simon sentenced Jiguan-Temaj to time served and imposed one year of supervised release. The term of supervised release will apply if the defendant remains in or returns to the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings. A $100 Special Assessment was also ordered.
According to U.S. Attorney Mildred, “An illegal alien from the Republic of Guatemala who had been previously removed from the United States in 2022 was arrested on March 17, 2026, after causing a disturbance while operating a pickup truck in the parking lot of a Merrillville hotel. The defendant, who appeared to be heavily intoxicated at the time, then fled from the Merrillville Police officers responding to the scene, causing property damage to another vehicle. The defendant was previously removed from the United States in 2022 and had reentered the country without inspection or approval. The defendant again violated our nation’s borders, sovereignty and laws and was caught because he was endangering our community and then fled from officers. Thanks to the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Merrillville Police Department and Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater, the defendant has been prosecuted and sentenced. The defendant needs to respect our nation’s laws and not return illegally.”
The case involved cooperation between Homeland Security Investigations and local law enforcement agencies, including the Merrillville Police Department.