Jose Alberto Zamora Zamora, Illegal Re-entry, Alabama 2023

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Table of Contents

El Salvador Native Sentenced for Illicit Re-Entry

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Juan Carlos Portillo, also known as Jose Alberto Zamora Zamora, Jose Alberto Lopez, Jose Alberto Zamora-Penate, Juan Alberto Zamora-Zamora, and Jose Adalberto Lopez-Lopez, 30, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegal re-entry into the United States.

U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco handed down the sentence in a federal court in Birmingham. Portillo had pleaded guilty in February to one count of illegal re-entry after deportation.

According to the plea agreement, Homeland Security Investigations Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Birmingham received a tip from ERO San Salvador in July 2023 that Portillo was allegedly residing with one of his sisters in Columbiana, Alabama. In August 2023, HSI ERO received information that Portillo was working as a subcontractor at a residence in Chelsea, Alabama.

HSI agents searched the residence and found Portillo inside. He was taken into custody.

Portillo is currently wanted in El Salvador and has a total of six arrest warrants for aggravated kidnapping, attempted aggravated homicide, illicit association, aggravated extortion, terrorist organization, deprivation of liberty, and aggravated homicide. He is also the alleged leader of one of the most violent cliques of the MS-13 gang in El Salvador, according to ERO San Salvador.

HSI ERO investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Dimler prosecuted the case.

Portillo’s sentence marks a significant blow to the MS-13 gang, which has been known for its violent activities in El Salvador and other parts of the world.