Roger B. Handberg, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney has announced the unsealing of an indictment against Jose Mario Abrego-Mejia, a 34-year-old Honduran national. Abrego-Mejia is charged with illegal reentry into the United States after being previously deported. If found guilty, he could face up to two years in federal prison. He is currently detained while awaiting the outcome of his case.
The indictment states that Abrego-Mejia was removed from the United States in 2009 but was discovered back in the country on August 31, 2022, without permission from either the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission.
An indictment serves as a formal accusation that a defendant has breached federal criminal law. It is important to note that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation into this case is being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). The prosecution will be led by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.
