Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Luis Miguel Hernandez-Flores, a 37-year-old citizen of El Salvador, has been indicted in federal court on charges of possessing a firearm as an illegal alien. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Hernandez-Flores appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick at the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee for his arraignment.
If found guilty, Hernandez-Flores could face up to 15 years in prison and deportation proceedings after serving any sentence.
The investigation involved several agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Gadsen County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.
According to authorities, an indictment represents only an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has violated federal criminal law and does not constitute evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt during trial.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), which is a national effort by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration and targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations through collaboration with programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is among 94 offices across the country responsible for representing the federal government in legal matters under the direction of the Attorney General. Additional information about public court documents can be found at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website or through http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
