RALEIGH– John Stuart Bruce, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned indictments charging OSCAR ARMANDO ARIAS, age 42, of Honduras, JUAN ANTONIO HERNANDEZ-RAMIREZ, age 27, of Mexico, BERNARDINO PATLAN-GONZALEZ, age35, of Mexico, OSMAN SAMIR ALVAREZ-GUITY, age 31, of Honduras, JESUS FELIX-REYES, age 36, of Mexico, JESUS ANTONIO MILLAN-RASCON, age 33, of Mexico, and JUAN GALLARDO-MEJIA, age 52, of Mexico, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.
Also, the same federal grand jury returned an indictment charging ALVARO VERA-DELGADILLO, age 34, of Mexico, with Possession of a Firearm by an Alien Illegally or Unlawfully in the United States.
If convicted of Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, HERNANDEZ-RAMIREZ, previously deported on two occasions,and PATLAN-GONZALEZ, previously deported on four occasions, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
ALVAREZ-GUITY, FELIX-REYES, and MILLAN-RASCON are alleged to have been previously deported on three, six, and seven occasions, respectively, and having been previously convicted of a felony (a prior illegal reentry after deportation). Also, ARIAS is alleged to have been previously deported after having been convicted of a felony (trafficking in cocaine). Therefore, if convicted, they face a maximum imprisonment term of ten years.
GALLARDO-MEJIA is alleged to have been previously deported twice after having been convicted of an aggravated felony (possession of marijuana for sale). Therefore, if convicted, he faces a maximum imprisonment term of twenty years.
If convicted of possession of a firearm by an alien illegally in the United States, VERA-DELGADILLO would face maximum penalties of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The cases are being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, specifically, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations.