Guatemalan National Sentenced To 21 Months In Federal Prison For Illegally Reentering The United States

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul Byron has sentenced Jorge Mendez-Bamaca (33, Guatemala) to 21 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Mendez-Bamaca entered a guilty plea on April 21, 2025.

According to court records, Mendez-Bamaca, a citizen of Guatemala, was convicted in Florida state court of fleeing or attempting to elude siren lights on November 24, 2015, possession of cocaine on May 1, 2018, and lewd and lascivious molestation on November 15, 2018.  As a result of his conviction of lewd and lascivious molestation, Mendez-Bamaca was required to register as a sex offender. Mendez-Bamaca was deported from the United States on February 26, 2019.

Mendez-Bamaca was arrested on January 16, 2025, by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office for driving without a valid license and giving false identification to law enforcement. After his arrest, law enforcement learned that Mendez-Bamaca was present in the United States illegally and that he had not registered as a sex offender in Florida.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.