United States Attorney John P. Heekin has announced that 16 individuals, previously deported from the United States, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the country. These indictments are part of recent immigration enforcement actions.
The accused include Jose Victor Aguilar-Zelaya from Honduras, Oscar Alva-Cabrera from Mexico, and Ofelia Andrea Caal-Chub from Guatemala, among others. Each individual is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States after being deported in previous years. Locations where they were found range from Fort Walton Beach to Pensacola and Tallahassee.
“The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine,” according to the press release.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and several local law enforcement bodies. The cases are prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton, Harley Ferguson, Alicia Forbes, Justin Keen, Walter Narramore, and Eric Welch.
An indictment signifies an allegation by a grand jury but does not serve as evidence of guilt. “All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial,” states the announcement.
These cases fall under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and related criminal activities through coordinated efforts by various departments within the Department of Justice.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 such offices across the nation serving under the Attorney General’s direction. Public court documents can be accessed online through their website.
