Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced the August 7, 2025 indictment of FEDERICO MENDEZ-FRANCISCO a/k/a “JORGE SANTOS ARROYO,” a/k/a “JORGE A. GORDILLO,” a/k/a “FEDERICO MENDEZ,” a/k/a “FREDERICO MENDEZ,” a/k/a “FEDERICO MENDEZ FRANCISCO,” (“MENDEZ-FRANCISCO”), age 40, a native of Guatemala, for re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a)(b)(1).
According to court documents, MENDEZ-FRANCISCO, an illegal alien, was found in Jefferson Parish on May 2, 2025. Law enforcement previously removed MENDEZ-FRANCISCO from the United States on July 3, 2024, and he had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to re-enter the United States. On August 24, 2005 and prior to his removal from the United States, MENDEZ-FRANCISCO pled guilty to felony forgery in the Circuit Court of Pike County, Missouri.
MENDEZ-FRANCISCO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE-ERO”) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the matter.
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).
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