A Colombian national, Jaime Fernandez-Alacron, age 48, is facing federal indictment charges for allegedly reentering the United States after prior convictions for kidnapping and firearms offenses. As laid out by the Department of Justice, Fernandez-Alacron was deported twice previously, in 2011 and 2020, following convictions in New York. His most recent arrest occurred in May, when the Ohio State Highway Patrol apprehended him under charges including felony drug possession and various driving violations.
According to the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, this type of illegal reentry can lead to a federal prison sentence of up to 20 years, given Fernandez-Alacron's record of an aggravated felony. An indictment is not an assumption of guilt but raises allegations against the defendant, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative designed to enforce immigration laws rigorously and to displace transnational criminal organizations.
The recent indictment was announced by Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones. In a statement obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice, Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez is representing the government in this case.
Investigations into Fernandez-Alacron's activities fall under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), which was established by President Trump's Executive Order 14159. The initiative, dubbed Operation Take Back America, aims to, as declared by the Department of Justice, "marshal the full resources" to fight illegal immigration, cartel activity, and ensure the safety of American communities.
