Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced the indictment of a Honduran national for illegally reentering the U.S. after deportation. CARLOS RENE MEDINA-AYALA, 48, was charged last Friday, according to an official release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The indictment accuses MEDINA-AYALA of reentering the U.S. around June 2, following a prior deportation in November 2013.
The accused faces a possible sentence of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, along with supervised release for up to a year and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In a statement obtained by the U.S Attorney's Office, Acting United States Attorney Simpson emphasized that "the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt." This case forms a part of Operation Take Back America, which purports to strictly enforce immigration laws and dismantle criminal organizations.
United States Border Patrol has been acknowledged by Simpson for their investigative efforts in this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit was assigned to lead the prosecution. The crackdown is a continuation of law enforcement's aim to repel illegal immigration and the risks associated with it. Operation Take Back America is described as a "nationwide initiative" that unites the efforts of the Department of Justice including resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
