The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio has announced a series of indictments and a guilty plea related to illegal reentry offenses. These actions involve individuals previously deported from the United States, now facing legal proceedings for returning without authorization.
Oscar Arcos-Carvahal, 40, a Mexican national, has been indicted on charges of illegal reentry. He was last removed from the U.S. on October 22, 2009. The U.S. Border Patrol at Sandusky Bay Station conducted the investigation leading to his indictment.
Erick Cordova Rodriguez, 37, also from Mexico, faces similar charges after being deported with his last removal dated June 13, 2018. He had a prior conviction for attempted illegal reentry on June 7, 2018. The investigation was carried out by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Antonio G. Nicolas-Pedro, a Guatemalan citizen aged 31, is charged with illegal reentry following three previous removals in January and April of 2018 and June of that year as well. ICE-HSI handled the investigation in this case.
Dino De Laurentis Rivera-Lopez (also known as Jorge Palmero Rivera Lopez), aged 44 and hailing from Honduras, has been charged after being deported three times; his last removal occurred on January 20, 2020. This case was investigated by ICE-HSI alongside the Campbell Police Department.
In another development, Veronica Rios-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen aged 47, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry after prior removals—the latest being December 15, 2007—and a past conviction for identity fraud in that same year. She was sentenced to time served by Judge Donald C. Nugent and will remain detained pending her deportation following an arrest earlier this year on February 25th.
It is important to note that an indictment serves only as an accusation; it does not constitute proof of guilt. Each defendant retains the right to a fair trial where their guilt must be established beyond reasonable doubt by prosecutors.
Upon conviction, sentencing will consider factors specific to each case such as criminal history and involvement in offenses while ensuring penalties do not exceed statutory limits—typically falling below maximum thresholds.
These legal actions form part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing issues surrounding illegal immigration and dismantling criminal organizations impacting community safety across the country.