Two Chilean nationals, Hernan Nicolas Fuentes Alfaro, 44, and Eduardo Luis Portilla Romero, 19, have been indicted in the United States on charges related to immigration and identity fraud. Fuentes Alfaro faces charges for illegal reentry after a previous deportation and possession of a fraudulent Peruvian passport. Portilla Romero is also charged with possessing a fraudulent passport, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office release.
According to federal authorities, both individuals were found on April 2, with passports containing information belonging to real individuals. Fuentes Alfaro had been previously deported in March 2020. If convicted, the two could face up to 12 years in federal prison, along with the forfeiture of any assets tied to the offenses.
The charges are part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration, identity fraud, and organized criminal activity. The operation involves collaboration between multiple agencies and federal programs, including the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Both individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
