Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson has announced that JUAN JOSUE CUEVAR-ALVARADO, a 20-year-old Honduran national, has been indicted on a three-count superseding indictment as of April 24, 2025. The charges against Cuevar-Alvarado include illegal possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm to further a drug trafficking crime.
The indictment alleges that on or about September 15, 2023, Cuevar-Alvarado, unlawfully present in the United States, was discovered with a .22 caliber revolver, a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, and a quantity of marijuana.
If convicted on Count 1, Cuevar-Alvarado faces penalties of up to 15 years in prison, along with up to three years of supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000. Count 2 carries potential penalties of up to five years in prison, similar supervision terms, and fines. Count 3 imposes a mandatory prison sentence of five years that would run consecutively to any other sentence, along with possible supervised release and fines. Each count also includes a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Following any prison term, Cuevar-Alvarado may face deportation to Honduras.
Simpson praised the collaborative investigative efforts of the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Kenner Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Spiro G. Latsis and Paul J. Hubbell from the General Crimes Unit.
This case is part of "Operation Take Back America," a federal initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguarding communities from violent crime. This initiative is supported by the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.