BUFFALO, N.Y. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York has dropped a重磅 charge against three Mexican nationals accused of illegal re-entry into the United States. Ariel Benjamin Gregorio Santiago, aged 35, Jorge Alfredo Martinez Sanchez, at 50, and Zeferino Marceliano Leon, 35, are facing serious charges that could land them up to two years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Santiago and Leon were caught on July 24, 2025, as they attempted to flee from an Amherst, NY, residence where they were suspected of being illegal alien contractors. Both men were previously removed from the United States in 2011 and 2019, respectively.
Martinez Sanchez was apprehended on July 27, 2025, during a routine Border Patrol surveillance at a Cheektowaga, NY, retail store. The suspect, who had no legal documentation to be in the U.S., was also removed from the country in 2017.
The trio appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and were detained without bail, marking this case as a significant victory for Operation Take Back America. This national initiative, led by the Department of Justice, aims to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels, and protect communities from violent crime.
Investigation leading to these charges was conducted by U.S. Border Patrol under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Martin B. Coombs. The operation is a collaboration between various task forces, including OCDETFs and PSN.
As always, it’s important to note that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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