A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Alabama has indicted 15 individuals on federal immigration charges. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
Ten individuals were indicted for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. These are Salvador Rodriguez-Villa from Mexico, Noel Paz-Diaz, 34, Christian Mendoza-Salas, 29, Isidro Gutierrez Gabriel, 35, Mateo Pascual-Francisco, 40, Tomas Naz-Gonzalez, 27, Marco Julio Agustin-Miranda, 27, and Rafael Juan-Francisco, 35, all from Guatemala, Jose Rigoberto Acosta-Calles, 36, from El Salvador, and Elmer Geovany Sarmiento-Sifrian, 32, from Honduras.
Four individuals were charged with being an alien in possession of a firearm. They include Elmer David Hernandez-Garcia, 39, from Honduras, Christian Ivan Sanchez, 36, Jhoan Jesus Rodriguez-Perez, 21, and Orli Umberto Marquez-Cordon, 24, all from Mexico.
Additionally, Maria Monserrat de Jesus Bautista-Hernandez, 41, from Mexico, has been charged with illegal reentry after a prior removal and for being an alien in possession of a firearm.
The cases fall under Operation Take Back America, which aims to combat illegal immigration, eliminate criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. This initiative combines resources from the Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood. The cases were investigated by partners including Homeland Security Investigations – Atlanta, U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Houston Division, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Nashville Field Division.
It is important to note that an indictment only comprises charges. A defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty.
