Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Reports Significant Prosecutions Under Operation Take Back America

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has announced a series of recent criminal complaints, indictments, and sentencing outcomes achieved as part of the Department of Justice’s nationwide Operation Take Back America. This initiative is designed to combat illegal immigration, dismantle criminal organizations, and reduce violent crime. The office has highlighted several cases demonstrating its commitment to these objectives.

Recent actions by the office include a criminal complaint filed on December 2, 2025, against Anderson Martinez-Montenegro and Elmer Ortiz-Berduo, both Guatemalan citizens unlawfully present in the United States. They face charges of resisting arrest and assaulting federal officers. This case underscores the office’s efforts to address direct confrontations with law enforcement during immigration enforcement operations.

In a separate development on November 24, 2025, Jairo Eliu Aguilar-Lopez, a citizen of El Salvador, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson to 15 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release. Aguilar-Lopez was found guilty of illegally reentering the United States, having been previously deported on two occasions. His sentencing reflects the legal consequences for individuals who repeatedly violate immigration laws.

Further contributing to the office’s efforts, a criminal complaint was filed on November 14, 2025, against Cristian Rivas-Bonilla, also from El Salvador. Rivas-Bonilla is charged with interfering with federal law enforcement officers, an offense that can carry significant penalties. He was already subject to a final order of removal from the United States.

On October 30, 2025, Sarah Maud Jess, a Jamaican national residing in Capitol Heights, Maryland, received a five-year federal prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman. Jess was convicted on two counts: distributing over 40 grams of fentanyl and illegally reentering the country after a previous deportation for an aggravated felony conviction. This case highlights the intersection of drug trafficking and immigration offenses.

In a significant firearms-related case, a federal grand jury indicted four individuals on October 16, 2025: Luis Melendez Serrano, Kevin Melendez Serrano, Alex Pena Martinez, and William Rivera Nolasco. The indictment charges them with conspiracy to traffic firearms. Notably, Luis Melendez Serrano and Alex Pena Martinez are identified as illegal aliens who unlawfully possessed firearms. Additionally, Luis Melendez Serrano, Martinez, and Nolasco face charges related to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Rounding out these recent prosecutions, Francisco Reymundo-Reymundo, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced on October 2, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox. Reymundo-Reymundo received an eight-month federal prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, for his third conviction of illegally reentering the United States. Court documents indicate he had been previously deported on four separate occasions. These convictions demonstrate the legal repercussions for repeat offenders of immigration reentry laws.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland emphasizes that these prosecutions are part of a broader national strategy to enhance border security, combat criminal enterprises, and ensure public safety within American communities. The office has indicated its continued dedication to prosecuting those who violate federal laws, particularly in areas related to immigration and serious criminal offenses.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland

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