Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Recent Prosecutions in Connection With DOJ Take Back America Initiative

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s recent prosecutions in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America.

Hayes announced the superseding indictment and sentences with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.

U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow recently sentenced Edwin Armando Sanchez-Montiel, 32, a national of El Salvador residing in Silver Spring, Maryland, to 16 1/2 months in federal prison for re-entry of an alien removed after being convicted of accessory after the fact to first degree murder in Montgomery County, Maryland, an aggravated felony.

Additionally, U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman recently sentenced Cesar Odilo Contreras-Lopez, 27, a Guatemalan national residing in Hyattsville, Maryland, to 63 days in federal prison for re-entry of an illegal alien after a prior removal.

In addition, a federal grand jury recently indicted Willians Elenilson Beltran-Quintanilla, 39, of El Salvador, charging him with illegally re-entering the United States after two prior removals.

These cases are 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.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in these investigations.  Ms. Hayes also thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted these federal cases.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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