A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, has issued indictments against three individuals for federal criminal offenses. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, alongside Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, Police Chief Mike Canon of the Calvert City Police Department, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago with U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement.
The first individual charged is Juan Baltazar Felipe-Pedro, a 26-year-old citizen of Guatemala. He faces charges related to reentry after deportation or removal. "On or about January 23, 2025," Felipe-Pedro was found in the United States after having been previously deported on April 25, 2019. If convicted, he could face up to two years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI and ICE/ERO.
The other two individuals indicted are Jhoandiris Jimenez-Barrio and Yirvel Yonaker Rios-Castro from Venezuela, aged 26 and 20 respectively. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank larceny and attempted bank larceny. According to the indictment, "on or about January 31, 2025," they conspired to break into an ATM at a bank in Calvert City, Kentucky to steal money. Homeland Security Investigations confirmed their illegal entry into the United States. If found guilty, they face a maximum sentence of up to 50 years in prison. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, Calvert City Police Department, and HSI.
Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider sentencing guidelines along with other statutory factors. It is noted that there is no parole within the federal system.
The prosecution team includes Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. Spencer McKiness, Seth Hancock, and Raymond McGee.
It should be emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
