Guatemala Citizen Gonzalez-Lopez Charged with Illegal Reentry

CLEVELAND – Francisco Gonzalez-Lopez, a 35-year-old citizen of Guatemala, has been charged with illegal reentry in the Northern District of Ohio. Gonzalez-Lopez had one previous removal from the United States on November 15, 2017. He was found in Poland Township, Ohio, without consent from the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission on June 12, 2025. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) HSI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Rolph.

In a separate case, Jaime Ortega-Urquidi, 63, a citizen of Mexico, faces charges of illegal reentry and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. His most recent removal was on October 10, 2017. Urquidi was found in Lorain, Ohio, on May 28, 2025, without permission for readmission. He was also charged with an enhanced penalty for a prior serious drug felony conviction from 2014. The investigation was led by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station, the FBI Cleveland Division, and the Lorain Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney James Lewis prosecuting.

Edil A. Martinez-Padilla, 38, a citizen of Honduras, has been sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz after pleading guilty to illegal reentry. He had previously been removed twice from the United States with his last removal on April 24, 2013. ICE-HSI conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter E. Daly prosecuted the case.

An indictment is only a charge and does not constitute evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Sentencing will depend on unique factors for each case, including prior criminal records if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at eliminating cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to crack down on illegal immigration and related offenses.