KANSAS CITY, MO – Two men are facing federal prison time after pleading guilty to separate crimes in Missouri federal court, according to the Department of Justice. The cases highlight ongoing efforts to combat illegal immigration and document fraud within the state.
Andres G. Angel-Martinez, 25, a Mexican national, admitted to unlawfully returning to the United States after previously being removed. He pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of unlawfully returning to the United States after removal. Angel-Martinez was taken into custody on April 15, 2025, at the Cass County, Missouri Jail following an immigration violation. He now faces up to two years in federal prison and a potential fine of $250,000. He remains in custody pending sentencing.
In an unrelated case, Victor Hugo Vasquez-Perez, a Guatemalan national, confessed to possessing a fraudulent Permanent Resident card. On March 15, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers encountered Vasquez-Perez at his Independence, Missouri residence. A search revealed he possessed a United States of America Permanent Resident card and a Social Security card, both bearing his photograph but under a false name. Vasquez-Perez now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Court documents detail the fraudulent nature of the documents found in Vasquez-Perez’s possession. The use of falsified identification not only violates immigration laws but also opens the door to a range of other potential criminal activities. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit spearheaded the investigation that led to his arrest.
Both cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. The investigations were conducted by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, underscoring the agency’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and combating identity fraud. Both defendants will remain in custody awaiting their sentencing hearings, dates for which have yet to be determined by Judge Kays.
These prosecutions are part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative designed to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from violent crime. The operation integrates resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) to streamline enforcement efforts and maximize impact. The DOJ aims to aggressively address border security and disrupt criminal networks operating within the United States.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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