Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed 153 border-related cases this week. These cases include charges such as assault on a federal officer, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is one of the busiest federal districts due to its high volume of border-related crimes. This district covers San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, known as the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego and Tijuana.
The district also prosecutes proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
A few notable arrests from this week include:
- On May 11, Mario Santiago-Velasquez was arrested for being a Deported Alien Found in The United States. He has previous convictions for five immigration crimes and Malicious Destruction of Property.
- On May 12, Juan Jose Perez-Garcia was sentenced to seven months in custody for illegally entering the U.S. again after being previously convicted of five immigration-related offenses.
- On May 13, Juan Nazario Lizarraga Peralta was charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance when he attempted to enter the U.S. with fentanyl and cocaine strapped to his body.
- Also on May 13, Oscar Echevarria-Luque was charged with illegal importation of cocaine after Customs officers found over 200 pounds concealed in his trailer.
- On May 14, Ernesto Alejandro Rodriguez Gallegos was arrested with 135 pounds of cocaine hidden in his vehicle at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
Additionally, several defendants were recently convicted or sentenced for re-entering the U.S. illegally:
- Serafin Abelino-Medel received a sentence of 15 months for illegal reentry after prior convictions including felony inflicting corporal injury on a spouse.
- Isaac Lopez-Rodriguez was sentenced to two years for illegal reentry following a conviction for Attempt to Commit Aggravated Assault.
These actions align with Operation Take Back America priorities focusing on prosecuting undocumented aliens involved in criminal activities such as drug and firearms crimes or those with serious criminal records.
Federal law enforcement partners supporting these efforts include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF) along with state and local law enforcement agencies.
It is important to note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.