A federal grand jury in Birmingham has charged nine individuals with immigration-related offenses, as announced by U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
The charges primarily involve illegal reentry into the United States after previous deportation. The defendants include Jesus Malaquias Manuel-Marcos, 44, from Guatemala; Sergio Rogelio Sandoval-Luna, 26, from Mexico; Jose Medrano Aguilar-Rodriguez, 42, from Mexico; Jose Alberto Sanchez-Pineda, 35, from Mexico; Sergio Dominguez-Bautista, 42, from Mexico; Husaid Cruz-Santos, 28, from Mexico; Berenice Margarita Reyes-Rodriguez, 44, from Mexico; and Pedro Paz-Diaz, 36, also from Guatemala.
Additionally, Elvin Geovanny Lopez-Diaz, a 19-year-old citizen of Honduras, faces charges for being an alien in possession of a firearm.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America. This nationwide initiative seeks to utilize the Department of Justice's full resources to address illegal immigration issues and combat cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation aims to protect communities by eliminating violent crime perpetrators. It involves collaboration between the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Homeland Security Investigations – Atlanta and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Nashville Field Division investigated these cases.
It is important to note that an indictment only contains charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
