Jose Melvin Lopez-Lorenzo, aged 29 and a native of Honduras, was indicted on April 24, 2025, for the crime of re-entering the United States as a removed alien, as per Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). This was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
The indictment specifies that Lopez-Lorenzo was discovered in the United States on April 10, 2025, following a previous deportation on July 26, 2018. He had returned without authorization from the Attorney General.
If convicted, Lopez-Lorenzo faces a potential penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine that could reach $250,000, a term of supervised release up to one year, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson emphasized that an indictment is simply a charge, and that guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt. Simpson also commended the United States Border Patrol for their investigative efforts. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. from the General Crimes Unit.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative designed to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The initiative consolidates the resources and efforts of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.