United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced on Mar. 12 that eight previously deported individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States, and seven others were convicted of similar immigration offenses during February.
The announcement highlights ongoing efforts to prosecute individuals who repeatedly violate U.S. immigration laws. Heekin said, “My office continues to make positive contributions to the success of Operation Take Back America as we follow the directive set forth by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to aggressively prosecute criminal aliens who have repeatedly violated our immigration laws and endangered the safety of our communities. Those who try to lie, cheat, and steal their way into our country will be met with swift justice and quick deportations.”
According to court records, those indicted include Franklin Zelaya-Funez of Honduras; Mario Lopez-Martinez of Mexico; Benancio Cuyuch-Pelico, Santos Gonon, Pablo Cuyuch-Garcia, Jose Francisco Santizo-Perez, and Gordolias Perez-Ramirez of Guatemala; and Antonio Isidro-Lopez of Honduras. The alleged offenses occurred in various counties across Florida between June 2025 and February 2026 after previous deportations dating back as far as 2010. Trials are scheduled throughout March and April 2026 before several district judges.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Zelaya-Funez and Santizo-Perez face enhanced penalties—up to ten years in prison—due to prior convictions qualifying them for increased sentences.
In addition to these indictments, seven individuals were convicted in February for being unlawfully present after prior removal from the country. These cases involved defendants from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Columbia encountered in multiple Florida counties between October and December 2025.
Investigations were conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies with assistance from local sheriff’s offices across Madison, Leon, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa counties as well as the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Brooke DiSalvo, Eric Welch, Alicia H. Forbes, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Jessica S. Etherton, Justin M. Keen, Joseph A. Ravelo and Christopher C. Patterson are prosecuting these cases.
This enforcement action is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
