Honduran Man Indicted for Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that DARWIN NECTALI MORADEL-VELASQUEZ (“VELASQUEZ”), age 40, was indicted on January 9, 2026, for illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).

According to the indictment, VELASQUEZ was found in the United States on December 31, 2025, having reentered the United States, without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States, after being previously deported on October 11, 2016.

If convicted, VELASQUEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Protection in investigating this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick Veters, Jr., of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.