U.S. Attorney announces immigration case updates for the Eastern District of Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today case updates on seven immigration cases in the district.

On Jan. 20 the President signed executive orders addressing the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. Protecting the American People Against Invasion recognized that enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States, and that it is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people. The order tasked the Department of Justice with prioritizing the prosecution of criminal offenses related to the unauthorized entry or continued unauthorized presence of aliens in the United States. Securing Our Borders prioritizes the pursuit of criminal charges against illegal aliens who violate immigration laws and against those who facilitate their unlawful presence in the United States.

On Nov. 19, 2009, pursuant to a final order of removal, Salvadoran national Oscar Adolfo Serpas Cruz, 39, was removed from the United States. On Sept. 7, 2014, Serpas Cruz illegally reentered the United States. On Oct. 14, 2014, pursuant to the prior order of removal, Serpas Cruz was removed from the United States again. Following his second removal, Serpas Cruz again illegally reentered the United States. On April 27, 2020, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned that Serpas Cruz had been arrested in Arlington County. On April 8, Serpas Cruz pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He was sentenced on April 24 to time served and remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-74

On Jan. 28, 2013, Mexican national Juan Manuel Rocha-Romo, 31, was removed from the United States. Rocha-Romo later illegally reentered the United States and on Aug. 1, 2013, was removed again. On Sept. 11, 2023, ICE learned that Rocha-Romo had illegally reentered the United States. On April 9, Rocha-Romo pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 25-cr-83-1

On July 4, 2018, Guatemalan national Jaime Lopez-Yanes, 25, was removed from the United States. On Sept. 6, 2018, Lopez-Yanes illegally reentered the United States and was removed again on Sept. 20, 2018. On June 24, 2024, following Lopez-Yanes’ arrest for felony strangulation, ICE agents learned that he had illegally reentered the United States. On April 1, Lopez-Yanes pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States, and he remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 25-cr-66

On Oct. 17, 2008, Salvadoran national Saul Recinos Dueñas, 47, was removed from the United States. After Recinos Dueñas’ arrest in Fairfax County for felony rape by force on Oct. 22, 2020, ICE agents learned that Recinos Dueñas had illegally reentered the United States. On April 4, Recinos Dueñas pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States, and he remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 25-cr-72

On Feb. 21, Kenyan national Christin Nyabate Nyandemo, 33, arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport on a flight from Accra, Ghana. Upon arrival, Nyandemo presented a passport and travel visa, both in her sister’s name, to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. An inspection of her bags revealed that Nyandemo was carrying two passports, a marriage license, birth certificate, Kenyan tax registration document, Kenyan identification card, and three bank cards, all in her sister’s name. On April 2, Nyandemo pled guilty to willfully and knowingly attempting to use a passport issued or designed for the use of another. Case No. 25-cr-77

Marcos Gregorio Mateo, 35, was first encountered by ICE on Jan. 31, 2011, in Stafford County. Mateo was removed from the United States to Mexico on Feb. 25, 2011. Mateo illegally reentered the United States and on Sept. 23, 2021, was convicted for assault and battery on a family member. On Oct. 19, 2022, Mateo was again convicted of assault and battery on a family member as well as a protective order violation. On Feb. 9, 2023, Mateo was convicted for abduction; assault and battery of a family member; felony and misdemeanor protective order violations; and statutory burglary. On Jan. 10, 2025, Mateo pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States. On April 17, Mateo was sentenced to eight months in prison and remains subject to a standing order of removal. Case No. 24-cr-259

Honduran national Enrique Ortiz-Hernandez was previously prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2023 for illegal reentry into the United States after a prior deportation and for failing to register as a sex-offender. Ortiz-Hernandez was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Among the conditions of his supervised release was the requirement that he not illegally reenter the United States. Following his release from prison on Aug. 29, 2024, Ortiz-Hernandez was removed on Sept. 30, 2024. Ortiz-Hernandez was found illegally present in Louisiana on Dec. 3, 2024. On April 24, Ortiz-Hernandez was found to be in violation of the terms of his supervised release and sentenced to a year in prison. Case No. 1:23-CR-12

Operation Take Back America is 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for the case number provided above.