Jackson, TN - On Nov. 20, 2017, a federal grand jury charged a Honduran man found in possession of multiple firearms in Jackson, Tennessee, in a 33-count indictment. D. Michael Dunavant,U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.
According to the indictment, on November 9, 2017, Melvin Melendez-Garcia, a/k/a/ "Joker," a/k/a Melvin Melendez, a/k/a Melvin Arteaga-Rivas, 32, reentered the United States after being deported and removed from the United States on multiple prior occasions, and did not have consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the country.
Melendez is also charged with 16 counts of being an alien in possession of several firearms, including shotguns, pistols, revolvers, and semi-automatic high capacity rifles. Melendez faces 16 additional counts of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of the same firearms.
If convicted, the defendant will face up to 10 years in federal prison for illegal reentry. Melendez will also face up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the individual firearm counts.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; Madison County Sherriff’s Office and Jackson Police Department Metro Narcotics Unit; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Eskridge is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
