A Guatemalan man has admitted guilt to the charge of transporting an unlawful alien in a Concord federal court. Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announced that Esdras Aaron Calel-Cumes, aged 29 and residing illegally in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to the charge of bringing in and harboring certain aliens. Sentencing by U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante is set for August 11, 2025.
According to the case documents, on September 9, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection identified Luis Felipe Xiloj-Ambrocio crossing illegally from Canada into the United States in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. Calel-Cumes had traveled from Massachusetts to collect Xiloj-Ambrocio, and both were apprehended while traveling south on U.S. Route 3.
Both individuals lack legal immigration status in the United States. Xiloj-Ambrocio has already pleaded guilty to illegal entry in the District of New Hampshire and has been deported. Calel-Cumes may face deportation to Guatemala following his sentencing.
The applicable statute stipulates a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. The determination of a sentence in such criminal cases adheres to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes, guided by a federal district court judge.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is handling the prosecution of the case.
The case falls under the nationwide initiative Operation Take Back America, led by the Department of Justice. This initiative seeks to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent criminals. It organizes and utilizes resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
