A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, has indicted 16 individuals on criminal immigration charges. The indictments include allegations of illegal reentry after deportation or removal and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky and other officials from various law enforcement agencies.
Among those charged is Moises Archaga-Garcia, 46, a Honduran citizen accused of reentering the United States after being deported in 2003. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison. Similarly, Darwin Martinez-Figueroa, 41, from Mexico, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation in 2014 and 2018; he also faces a maximum sentence of two years if found guilty.
Additional charges were brought against Roberto Cruz-Pacheco, Jose Rodriguez, Marcos Juarez-Morente, Lorenzo Perez-Perez, Aroldo Rodriguez-Navarro, Ewin Cabrera-Cabrera, Williams Josue Rodriguez-Calix, Esteban Perez-Crisostomo, Ramiro Galeana-Arzate, Luis Alberto Torres-Flores for similar offenses related to unlawful reentry into the United States.
Angel David Zuniga-Baca and Humberto Avila-Duran face more severe penalties due to additional charges involving firearms possession as illegal aliens. Zuniga-Baca could receive up to 17 years if convicted on all counts.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America which aims to combat illegal immigration and related criminal activities through coordinated efforts by federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).
The prosecutions are led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Yannelli among others. Each defendant remains innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt as an indictment serves only as an allegation at this stage.
There is no parole available under the federal judicial system for these offenses should convictions occur following trial proceedings adjudicated per statutory guidelines considered by presiding judges accordingly upon case conclusions.