The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced a series of immigration-related charges and convictions last week, targeting four individuals in separate cases linked to illegal reentry and associated crimes.
The prosecutions, part of the district’s Immigration Enforcement Task Force efforts, underscore ongoing efforts to address immigration violations across the region.
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On Monday, Sergio Diego-Sevilla, a 35-year-old Mexican national, was arrested in Licking County and charged with illegal reentry. Previously deported from Arizona, Diego-Sevilla was apprehended after deputies stopped a vehicle suspected of human smuggling.
Authorities found four individuals, including Diego-Sevilla, and $8,000 in cash inside, hinting at broader trafficking activities.
In Cincinnati, Edgar Palomares-Ventura, 38, pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally reentering the U.S. The Mexican citizen, deported from Texas in 2022, was discovered in West Chester in February.
His criminal history includes marijuana trafficking and fraud-related offenses, adding weight to the federal case against him.
On Wednesday, Brayan Castaneda-Juarez, a 32-year-old Mexican national, admitted guilt to illegal reentry and unlawful firearm possession. Previously removed from Texas, Castaneda-Juarez was caught attempting to shoplift at Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati.
A search uncovered a 9mm pistol, a serious offense for someone without legal U.S. status, as federal law prohibits illegal immigrants from possessing firearms.
New charges were filed against Ismael Rodriguez-Mojica, a 47-year-old Salvadoran national with a history of three prior deportations. Encountered by ICE officers in Columbus earlier this year, Rodriguez-Mojica now faces another illegal reentry charge, highlighting a pattern of repeated violations.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris stressed the preliminary nature of the cases, noting, “Charging documents merely contain allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.” The Task Force, comprising agents and attorneys, continues to prioritize immigration enforcement in the district.
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