Four individuals detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark, New Jersey, have been charged with escaping custody. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced the charges against Franklin Norberto Bautista Reyes, 20, of Honduras; Joan Sebastian Castaneda Lozada, 18, of Colombia; Andres Felipe Pineda Mogollon, 25, of Colombia; and Joel Enrrique Sandoval-Lopez, 22, of Honduras.
The defendants were held at Delaney Hall, a privately owned detention center in Newark, pending immigration removal proceedings. According to court documents, on or about June 12, 2025, they escaped by breaking through an aluminum second-story wall. They used mattresses as landing pads and bed sheets to cover barbed wire while climbing over the fence.
Castaneda Lozada, Sandoval-Lopez, and Bautista Reyes have been apprehended. Castaneda Lozada and Sandoval-Lopez appeared in court yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor. Bautista Reyes appeared today before the same judge. Pineda Mogollon remains at large.
Each defendant could face up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; officers from ICE under Acting Director Todd M. Lyons; and officers from Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel for their roles in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Hardin of the Public Protection Task Force in Newark is representing the government.
"The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations," noted officials. "The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
Defense counsel includes Linda Foster for Castaneda Lozada; Patrick Joyce for Sandoval-Lopez; and Stacy Biancamano for Bautista Reyes.
