U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Mexican National Indicted For Illegal Reentry
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Esteban Lopez-Juarez (40, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a deported alien with a prior felony conviction. If convicted, Lopez-Juarez faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, on March 16, 2025, Lopez-Juarez was found to be voluntarily in the United States after having previously been removed on five prior occasions. Lopez-Juarez had not received consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission. Additionally, Lopez-Juarez was previously convicted of illegal reentry in 2015 and 2016.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Updated April 23, 2025
Topic
Immigration
Component