A Guatemalan national residing unlawfully in West Springfield, Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a forged immigration document and illegal reentry into the United States. The plea was entered on June 13, 2025, in federal court in Springfield.
The individual, identified as Jose Martinez-Lopez, also known as "Amalio Mendez-Molina," is 33 years old. He admitted guilt to one count each of possession of a forged immigration document and unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni has scheduled sentencing for August 20, 2025. Martinez-Lopez was taken into custody in March 2025.
Martinez-Lopez's history with U.S. immigration authorities dates back to August 28, 2009, when he was removed from the United States to Guatemala after entering illegally at an unspecified prior date. Following his removal, he unlawfully reentered the country and was deported again on May 10, 2011.
After this second deportation, Martinez-Lopez returned illegally for a third time and was convicted on August 8, 2011, in Phoenix, Arizona for human smuggling conspiracy. He received a one-year probationary sentence before being removed from the United States again on August 23, 2011.
Subsequently reentering illegally for a fourth time after his last removal, Martinez-Lopez faced arrests on November 25, 2022 and June 17, 2023 in Cook County, Illinois for domestic battery/bodily harm charges. Immigration authorities lodged detainers both times; however, he was released from state custody before any removal actions were executed.
On March 10, 2025, Martinez-Lopez's arrest in West Springfield for assault and battery on a police officer led to his apprehension by immigration authorities. At that time he possessed a forged permanent resident card under the name "Amalio Mendez-Molina." The following day he confessed to being unlawfully present in the United States since his illegal reentry in 2021.
Possession of a forged immigration document carries potential penalties including up to ten years imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 along with three years supervised release. Unlawful reentry of a deported alien may result in up to two years imprisonment with similar fines and supervised release terms. Deportation is likely upon completion of any imposed sentence according to federal guidelines.
The announcement came from United States Attorney Leah B. Foley alongside Patricia H. Hyde from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow is prosecuting this case.
