A federal grand jury has indicted Edgar Javier Castillo-Rodriguez of Mexico on a three-count charge involving illegal re-entry into the United States and false representation of a Social Security number. Castillo-Rodriguez, 53, appeared in court for arraignment and pled not guilty.
Court records indicate that Castillo-Rodriguez, previously deported from the United States on two occasions—around October 30, 1996, near Brownsville, Texas, and November 6, 2000, near El Paso, Texas—was discovered again in the United States on or about October 29, 2024. Reports state he re-entered the country without receiving the necessary consent from the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Additionally, on October 29, 2024, Castillo-Rodriguez allegedly provided a falsely assigned Social Security number to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. Earlier, on April 21, 2023, he reportedly falsely used another Social Security number while seeking employment.
Several agencies are investigating the case, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, Gonzales Police Department, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Johnson is prosecuting the case.
This is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice, aiming to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels, and protect communities from violent crime.
An indictment signifies an accusation by a grand jury. Under legal provisions, the defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty via trial or a guilty plea.