A federal grand jury in Birmingham has indicted nine individuals on immigration-related charges, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona.
The indictments include charges against Jesus Malaquias Manuel-Marcos, 44, a citizen of Guatemala; Sergio Rogelio Sandoval-Luna, 26, a citizen of Mexico; Jose Medrano Aguilar-Rodriguez, 42, a citizen of Mexico; Jose Alberto Sanchez-Pineda, 35, a citizen of Mexico; Sergio Dominguez-Bautista, 42, a citizen of Mexico; Husaid Cruz-Santos, 28, a citizen of Mexico; Berenice Margarita Reyes-Rodriguez, 44, a citizen of Mexico; and Pedro Paz-Diaz, 36, also from Guatemala. These individuals are accused of illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
Additionally, Elvin Geovanny Lopez-Diaz, 19 and from Honduras is charged with being an alien in possession of a firearm.
These cases fall under Operation Take Back America. This initiative aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). It involves the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), with investigations conducted by Homeland Security Investigations – Atlanta and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Nashville Field Division.
It is important to note that an indictment only contains charges. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
