Federal Grand Jury in Georgia Indicts Multiple Individuals for Illegal Reentry After Deportation

SAVANNAH, Georgia – The November term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia has returned indictments against multiple defendants charged with Re-entry after Removal or Deportation, a federal offense applied to individuals unlawfully present in the United States following at least one prior removal.

Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, publicly announced the indictments. The defendants named in the indictments include:

- Evelio Gomez-Mateo, also known as Alexander Gomez, 45, a Guatemalan citizen apprehended in Effingham County.

- Hilario Jimenez-Jimenez, 27, a Guatemalan citizen apprehended in Coffee County.

- Alexis Yahir Itehua-Salas, 24, a Mexican citizen apprehended in Richmond County.

Each defendant faces charges of illegal reentry after removal or deportation. Under federal law, such offenses carry statutory penalties of up to two years imprisonment, followed by referral to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings. The penalties can be significantly increased if the defendant’s prior removal followed a felony or aggravated felony conviction.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that criminal indictments constitute charges only, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

These investigations have been conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and cooperating local law enforcement agencies. The prosecutions are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia C. Brame, Bradley R. Thompson, and Joshua Kyle Davis on behalf of the United States.

In related federal court actions within the Southern District of Georgia, an individual from Honduras was sentenced for offenses involving the receipt and shipment of firearms and firearm parts.

Additionally, several defendants who were unlawfully present in the United States have been sentenced in federal court and subsequently transferred to immigration authorities for immediate deportation.

The Southern District of Georgia continues to prioritize enforcement of immigration laws, particularly focusing on individuals who reenter the country illegally after removal. These indictments reflect ongoing efforts to uphold federal immigration statutes and public safety.

Criminal proceedings remain active, and further updates will be provided as cases progress through the judicial system.

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