Federal grand juries in Bowling Green and Paducah, Kentucky, have indicted five foreign nationals from China, Guatemala, and Mexico on charges related to immigration and firearms offenses. The indictments were announced by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, along with officials from the ATF Louisville Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement.
Artemio Ruiz-Medina, a 45-year-old Mexican citizen, was charged in Bowling Green for reentry after deportation or removal. He was found in the United States on April 13, 2025, after having been previously deported multiple times since July 3, 2003. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Santos Pastor-Juarez, a 52-year-old Guatemalan citizen, faces similar charges in Paducah for reentry after deportation or removal. He was discovered in the U.S. on April 28, 2025, following his deportation on March 6, 1998. His potential sentence is up to two years if convicted.
Zhouchen Yan from China has been charged with three counts of making false statements to deceive a licensed firearms dealer on official forms between October 23, 2023, and December 13, 2024. These offenses occurred in Warren County. Yan could face a maximum sentence of 30 years if found guilty.
Ulises Macario Gonzaga-Guillen from Mexico faces four counts of making false statements regarding his immigration status while purchasing firearms between January 1 and April 21, 2025. Additionally charged with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship while possessing firearms illegally in McCracken and Marshall counties, he risks up to a total of 73 years imprisonment upon conviction.
Rodrigo Waldemarr Caal-Caal from Guatemala and Rodolfo Ruiz-Hernandez from Mexico are both charged with illegal possession of firearms during an investigation by Mayfield Police Department into a death case. Each faces up to 15 years if convicted.
These cases fall under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations—utilizing resources from various federal programs including OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Nicholas Rabold and Mark J. Yurchisin II in Bowling Green as well as Seth Hancock and Raymond McGee in Paducah.
A federal district court judge will determine sentences based on guidelines without parole options available within the federal system.
An indictment serves only as an allegation; all defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court proceedings.
