FIVE INDICTMENTS RETURNED AND THIRTEEN ILLEGAL ALIENS CONVICTED OF IMMIGRATION, FALSE DOCUMENT OFFENSES IN JANUARY

PENSACOLA and GAINESVILLE - Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that five previously deported illegal aliens have been indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States, and thirteen illegal aliens were convicted of federal crimes in the month of January.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "My office continues to make positive contributions to the success of Operation Take Back America as we follow the directive set forth by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to aggressively prosecute criminal aliens who have repeatedly violated our immigration laws and endangered the safety of our communities. Those who try to lie, cheat, and steal their way into our country will be met with swift justice and quick deportations."

According to court records, five illegal aliens indicted in the month of January include:

• Pedro Vasquez-Guerra, 26, of El Salvador, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in December 2025, after previously being deported in 2017. Sentencing is set for February 24, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
• Jose Perez-Perez, 42, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in December 2025, after previously being deported three times in 2011 and once in 2023. Trial is set for March 2, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
• Emin Perez-Mendez, 37, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in December 2025, after previously being deported in 2018. Plea and Sentencing took place yesterday, February 4, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
• Delmer Francisco Garcia-Palma, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in January 2026, after previously being deported in 2017, 2019, and 2020. Trial is set for March 16, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
• Genaro Lopez Lopez, 49, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in January 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2009. Trial is set for March 16, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.

The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Garcia-Palma and Perez-Perez both face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine pursuant to allegations of prior convictions qualifying for an increased maximum sentence.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

In addition to the indictments filed, eleven defendants were convicted in the month of January for having had each been previously removed due to being unlawfully present in the country and thereafter illegally reentered without seeking the necessary permission or approval from the United States. The illegal aliens convicted in the month of January include:

• Melvin Saavedra-Vasquez, of Honduras, who was previously removed in March 2025. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on October 17, 2025.
• Luis Moscoso-Vidal, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in March 2019. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on October 27, 2025.
• Eugenio Hernandez-Vargas, of Mexico, who was previously removed in October 2010, November 2011, and April 2014. He was encountered in Bay County on October 29, 2025.
• Jose Alvarado Lopez, of Honduras, who was previously removed in June 2019 and August 2019. He was encountered in Bay County on October 29, 2025.
• Edgar Enamorado-Lara, of Honduras, who was previously removed in December 2006. He was encountered in Bay County on October 29, 2025.
• Maynor Esquivel-Amador, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in February 2019. He was encountered in Bay County on October 29, 2025.
• Edgar Castaneda-Herrera, of Mexico, who was previously removed in January 2006 and April 2008. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on November 8, 2025.
• Allan Josue Sanchez-Lozano, of Honduras, who was previously removed in July 2016. He was encountered in Escambia County on November 22, 2025.
• Carlos Sanchez-Mendez, of Mexico, who was previously removed in January 2010, February 2010, March 2010, October 2014, and April 2016. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on November 28, 2025.
• Leobardo Gomez-Lopez, of Mexico, who was previously removed in April 2016 and April 2017. He was encountered in Escambia County on November 28, 2025.
• Carlos Castellanos, of Honduras, who was previously removed in August 2014. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on December 11, 2025.

Two aliens were also convicted of false document crimes. They include:

• Belarmino Godinez, of Guatemala.
• Miguel Gomez-Ical, of Guatemala.

The cases are being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with assistance from the

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, the Bay County Sheriff's Office, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain, Christopher C. Patterson, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Walter E. Narramore, Joseph A. Ravelo, Meredith L. Steer, and Brooke DiSalvo are prosecuting the cases.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, human and drug trafficking.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.