Seven Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry Charges and Illegal Possession of Firearm

RALEIGH – John Stuart Bruce, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned indictments charging LUIS FERNANDO CANO-ACOSTA, age 40, of Mexico, DAVID LOPEZ-DIAZ, 26, of Mexico, GABRIEL MELO-CANALES, age 37, of Mexico, MARIO MENDOZA-CANO, age 44, of Mexico, BRYAN ARIEL VELASQUEZ-FUENTES, age 26, of Honduras, and LUIS LAURO ZAMORA-ESPIRIQUETA, age 52, of Mexico, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.

Additionally, a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned an indictment charging ERICK GALEANA-PIEDRA, age 27, of Mexico, with Illegal and Unlawful Alien in Possession of a Firearm.

If convicted of Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, CANO-ACOSTA, found in Wake County, LOPEZ-DIAZ, found in New Hanover County, MELO-CANALES, found in New Hanover County, VELASQUEZ-FUENTES, found in Wake County, and ZAMORA-ESPIRIQUETA, found in Wake County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

MENDOZA-CANO, found in New Hanover County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction (possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine). Therefore, if convicted, he would face a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

If convicted of Illegal and Unlawful Alien in Possession of a Firearm, GALEANA-PIEDRA, found in Johnston County, would face maximum penalties of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The cases are being investigated by ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.