Federal prosecutors have announced charges against 34 individuals as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal re-entry into the United States. According to the Department of Justice, several of the defendants previously deported have felony convictions for serious crimes, including domestic violence, unlawful sex with a minor, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Among those charged is 59-year-old Maximo Medrano, who was deported in both 1998 and 2023. Medrano has a felony conviction for drug transportation and is a registered sex offender, following an incident involving corporal injury and disorderly conduct. He now faces new charges for illegal re-entry. His case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney MiRi Song of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section.
Adrian Chopin-Sánchez, 32, of Mexico, is also facing charges after re-entering the U.S. following a 2017 deportation. His criminal history includes a conviction for unlawful sex with a minor. Another defendant, Daniel Giovanni Rivera-Peralta, 32, was removed in 2021 and is now facing charges tied to a previous assault with a deadly weapon conviction.
Prosecutors also revealed charges in a separate case involving four individuals arrested in Los Angeles. The group is accused of stealing $10,000 from a victim at a gas station after allegedly following the person from a bank in East Hollywood. The incident ended in a foot pursuit and the recovery of the stolen funds, some of which were discovered hidden in one suspect's underwear. Authorities also seized multiple fake passports during a search of their residence. The suspects face charges related to a money transportation conspiracy.
These prosecutions fall under “Operation Take Back America,” a Justice Department initiative aimed at disrupting illegal immigration and dismantling transnational criminal organizations. The operation is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Investigations are being conducted by multiple federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Orange County Violent Crimes Task Force. For further information on the cases and the ongoing operation, inquiries can be directed to Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy.
