The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland has announced indictments against five individuals in connection with offenses related to illegal aliens possessing firearms and ammunition, as well as firearms trafficking. Kelly O. Hayes, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, made this announcement.
Vielman Cabrera Arevalo from Guatemala, Erick Lozano Colindrez from Honduras, and Ludwin Fuentes Lopez from El Salvador face charges of being aliens in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition. Lester Araely Ramos Perez and Milton Leon-Morales, both from Guatemala, are charged with firearms trafficking and alien possession offenses.
These indictments are part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The operation seeks to protect communities from violent crime perpetrators.
U.S. Attorney Hayes was joined by several law enforcement officials in making this announcement: Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno from the FBI Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Baltimore Field Division (ATF); Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS); Chief Robert McCullough from the Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD); and Chief Jason Lando from the Frederick Police Department (FPD).
According to the indictments, all five defendants are unlawfully present in the United States. Ramos Perez and Leon-Morales allegedly conspired to transport over 35 firearms on January 22, 2025. They also face charges related to dealing firearms without a license, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possessing firearms illegally.
Authorities found Arevalo with two rounds of CBC 9mm Luger ammunition on December 14, 2023; Lopez with a black Polymer 80 firearm and ammunition on July 20, 2024; Colindrez with a Johnson Arms & Cycle Works .32 caliber revolver along with approximately 23 rounds of ammunition on November 15, 2024.
If convicted on these charges, Ramos Perez and Leon-Morales could face up to 15 years for firearms trafficking charges alone among other penalties while Arevalo, Colindrez or Lopez could each face up to 15 years imprisonment if found guilty.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court proceedings.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies at various levels alongside community involvement efforts designed towards creating safer neighborhoods across America since its launch back May26th ,2021 following enhanced strategies focusing upon trust-building measures alongside strategic enforcement priorities supported via outcome assessments .
U.S Attorney Hayes commended HSI Baltimore; FBI ; ATF ; DPSCS ; BCoPD ; FPD alongside Kenneth Clark -Chief Violent Organized Crime Unit within her office- plus Assistant Attorneys Jared Beim Kim Hagan Jamie O’Donohue who will prosecute these federal cases .
For further details regarding activities undertaken by Maryland’s US Attorneys' Offices including available resources supporting local communities visit their official websites listed below: