The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has announced the indictment of Erikx Soto-Gomez, a 41-year-old Guatemalan national. He has been charged by a federal grand jury on the count of illegally reentering the United States after a previous removal.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that the indictment alleges Soto-Gomez was removed from the United States on July 23, 2012, via Harlingen, Texas. He was reportedly found again in the United States without legal permission. The indictment further alleges that Soto-Gomez was encountered in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is in charge of prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the broader Operation Take Back America initiative. The operation aims to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguard communities from violent crime. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood are part of this nationwide effort.
If convicted, the maximum potential penalty under federal law for this offense is up to two years of imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release, and a fine. Sentencing is subject to the federal sentencing statutes and guidelines, and will be determined by a judge.
It is important to note that indictments are allegations, and individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.