A Guatemalan national has been indicted for illegal re-entry into the United States, according to an announcement from Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson. The indictment, dated August 7, 2025, charges Federico Mendez-Francisco, also known by several aliases including Jorge Santos Arroyo and Jorge A. Gordillo, with violating Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a)(b)(1).
Court documents state that Mendez-Francisco, age 40, was located in Jefferson Parish on May 2, 2025. He had previously been removed from the country on July 3, 2024. Authorities report that he did not have permission from either the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to return.
Mendez-Francisco has a prior conviction for felony forgery in Pike County, Missouri. He pleaded guilty to this charge on August 24, 2005.
If convicted of illegal re-entry after removal following a felony conviction, Mendez-Francisco could face up to ten years in prison, a fine as high as $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
"Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."
Simpson commended the efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans is handling prosecution.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide effort involving resources from the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and related criminal activity through collaboration with Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
