Multiple defendants indicted for immigration violations

SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants have been indicted by the May term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia with Re-entry after Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal.

Margaret E. "Meg" Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:

• Alejandro Mendoza-Hernandez, 39, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Long County.
• Didier Mora-Tino, 38, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Ware County.
• Marcos Saraya-Canales, 26, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Evans County.
• Porfirio Suarez-Olan, 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Atkinson County.
• Luis Angel Velasquez-Montes, 27, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Chatham County; and,
• Kenny Omar Diaz-Diaz, 35, a citizen of Honduras illegally present in the United States, arrested in Chatham County.

The charges carry statutory penalties up to two years in prison, followed by referral to immigration authorities for deportation.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy P. Dean, Lauren C. Olsen, and Makeia R. Jonese.