The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio has announced new immigration charges and convictions in four separate cases. These cases involve individuals charged with illegal reentry into the United States and other related offenses.
On Monday, Sergio Diego-Sevilla, a 35-year-old Mexican national, was arrested and charged with being an illegal reentrant. Previously deported from Arizona to Mexico, he was found in Licking County after local deputies stopped a vehicle allegedly involved in human smuggling. The vehicle contained four individuals, including Diego-Sevilla, and $8,000 in cash.
In Cincinnati on Tuesday, Edgar Palomares-Ventura pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the country. The 38-year-old Mexican citizen had been deported from Texas in 2022 but was found again in West Chester this February. His past convictions include marijuana trafficking and various fraud-related offenses.
Another case involves Brayan Castaneda-Juarez, who pleaded guilty on Wednesday to illegally reentering the U.S. and possessing a firearm unlawfully. The 32-year-old Mexican national was previously removed from Texas and was caught attempting to shoplift at Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati. A subsequent search revealed a 9mm pistol in his possession.
New charges were also filed against Ismael Rodriguez-Mojica today. The 47-year-old Salvadoran national has been deported three times before and is now charged with illegal reentry after being encountered by ICE officers in Columbus earlier this year.
Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris emphasized that "charging documents merely contain allegations" and all defendants are "presumed innocent unless proven guilty." These prosecutions are part of efforts by the Southern District of Ohio Immigration Enforcement Task Force focusing on immigration violations.