BALTIMORE (WBFF) — On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced a string of recent criminal complaints, indictments, and sentencings linked to the Department of Justice’s “Operation Take Back America” initiative.
According to officials, the initiative aims to confront illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and curb violent crime by coordinating federal law-enforcement resources across the country.
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U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes highlighted several Maryland cases that federal prosecutors advanced in recent weeks as part of the effort.
Recent Criminal Complaints and Arrests
On Dec. 2, prosecutors filed criminal complaints against Anderson Martinez-Montenegro, 28, and Elmer Ortiz-Berduo, 37, both Guatemalan nationals alleged to be unlawfully present in the United States. They are charged with resisting arrest and assaulting federal officers.
On Nov. 14, a complaint was filed against Cristian Rivas-Bonilla, 26, of El Salvador. Rivas-Bonilla is accused of resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal law-enforcement officers. Prosecutors noted he was already subject to a final removal order issued by an immigration judge.
Sentencings for Illegal Reentry and Drug Offenses
On Nov. 24, U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson sentenced Jairo Eliu Aguilar-Lopez, 54, of El Salvador, to 15 months in federal prison and one year of supervised release for illegally reentering the country after two prior deportations.
On Oct. 30, U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Sarah Maud Jess, 62, a Jamaican national living in Capitol Heights, to five years in federal prison. Jess was convicted of distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and illegally reentering the United States after a prior aggravated felony conviction.
On Oct. 2, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Francisco Reymundo-Reymundo, 30, of Guatemala, to eight months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for illegal reentry. Court records show he has been deported four times and now has three illegal-reentry convictions.
Firearms Conspiracy Indictment
A federal grand jury on Oct. 16, indicted four men— Luis Melendez Serrano, 19; Kevin Melendez Serrano, 23; Alex Pena Martinez, 19; and William Rivera Nolasco, 19—on charges of conspiring to traffic firearms. According to the indictment, Luis Melendez Serrano and Martinez were unlawfully present in the United States and illegally possessed firearms. Prosecutors also allege that Luis Melendez Serrano, Martinez, and Nolasco possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
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For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, click here.
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