A Guatemalan man, Neri Osbeli Argueta-Chun, was indicted on April 11, 2025, for re-entering the United States illegally after a prior deportation. The indictment was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Argueta-Chun, age 42, faces charges under Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(1) for illegal reentry of a removed alien.
According to court documents, Argueta-Chun returned to the U.S. after being deported on October 31, 2018. If convicted, he could face penalties of up to two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Due to a prior felony conviction, his sentence could be enhanced to up to 10 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson emphasized, "an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and reducing transnational crime. The operation integrates resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Simpson commended the United States Border Patrol for their investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. is leading the prosecution efforts in this case.