Altoona Man Charged with Illegally Re-entering U.S.

A citizen of Guatemala has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of re-entry of an illegal alien, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The one-count indictment named Jose Arqimedes Guevera-Amaya, 30, of Altoona, Pa., as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on Nov. 19, 2012, Guevera-Amaya, an alien who had been deported from the United States on Oct. 11, 2001, was found in Blair County, Pennsylvania. He had unlawfully re-entered this country without receiving permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to do so.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The investigation leading to the indictment in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

RELATED: Pennsylvania’s Meth Empire: Ten Indicted for Massive Narcotics Ring

RELATED: Meth and Heroin Ring: Ten Feds Charged in Major Narcotics Bust

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Human Trafficking

Dujuan Harris, Child Sex Trafficking, RI 2024

Nov 22, 2016

Human Trafficking

Guatemalan Man, 35, Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Minor Girl He Smuggled into US

May 2, 2024

Human Trafficking

Marlin Santana Thomas, Sex Trafficking of Minors, IA 2021

Nov 17, 2021

Human Trafficking

Kenyata D. Miles, Child Sex Trafficking, MO 2024

Dec 7, 2016